The Barefoot Criminal

happysongbird

Chapter Presidents
Jul 1, 2011
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Nampa, Idaho
dailyimprovisations.com
I can't be the only one who has run into this, but I think I was almost arrested today for being barefoot in the grocery store. The manager was trying to be nice, but he seemed to really think I was breaking the law. Here I was, obviously shopping, even wearing my black pearl earrings! He wanted me out of there as soon as possible, but he did let me finish shopping with the understanding that I would be gone in about 10 minutes.:banghead:

I have been trying to find anything about Idaho law since I got home and can't find anything other than a letter from 2009 via the Society for Barefoot Living that says there is no such law, and other various mentions that businesses either seem to think it is a law or pretend it is. :confused: http://www.barefooters.org/health-dept/ID2009.pdf

On the humorous side, when the poor manager started to quote the no shirt, no shoes, no service (really those words) to me, he got all embarrassed and decided not to mention the shirt requirement again.:rolleyes:

Another thing, the whole incident really has my mom on riled up. She's ready to take them on, both for misinformation and for stupid requirements! Its great to have support. :mad:

I have to wonder if it was another shopper who "turned me in" :lurking: because of how the original employee ran up to me. Again, he was polite and I really kind of felt bad for him because I don't think he wanted to bother me.
 
That's too bad I guess I am one of the few lucky ones here in Iowa the local grocery store has no problem when someone is grocery shopping shoeless.
Next time ask him where in the constitucion is listed that being barefoot is illegal.
 
A similar thing happened to me at McDonalds last week. A old dude went to get his coffee refilled, looked at me and said to the counter girl that she could not serve me because I was barefoot. I asked him why, to which he replied that it was against the law. I asked him what law, he had no answer, I told him politely that he was misinformed he said that he wasn't and that the police were coming to arrest me. By then I got my coffee and went on my way, the girl behind the counter just smiled and told me to have a nice day. I've been back in there a few more times since and haven't had any problems.
 
This is what I wrote via their website. They said I should hear back within 96 hours. wow.
When I was grocery shopping today, I was told forcefully but politely that I would have to leave because it is against the law to have bare feet in the store. I have researched this and cannot find any sources to corroborate this claim. In fact, I find just the opposite. This is apparently a well established myth of a law, as are many of the preconceptions about walking about with bare feet.

Here is one letter I found when the Society for Barefoot Living contacted Idaho State Health and Welfare to ask about just this question. http://www.barefooters.org/health-dept/ID2009.pdf

I have been discovering the importance and comfort of both walking and running with my bare feet for the last 3 years. I would really appreciate being able to make my own choices in this regard, as it clearly poses no threat to anyone else and it is my decision that it is very healthy. http://www.ronjones.org/Handouts/Others/Rossi-ShoesMakeNormalGaitImpossible.pdf

I would like to emphasize that I do believe the store manager was trying to be polite in his panicked state that I was breaking the law and he would be responsible.

It would be great to hear back that this unnecessary infringement on my self-determination has been removed.

Sincerely,
Laura
 
I can't be the only one who has run into this, but I think I was almost arrested today for being barefoot in the grocery store.
You are correct, you are not the only one.
I still have never spent a night in jail though!
 
Let me guess: You have never spent a night in jail because it would be against the law to be in jail with bare feet? :D
Probably!
But the real reason is that I have my attorney on speed dial. Three times now I have contacted him while being detained by the athorities and subsequently told the cops that my lawyer says they are wrong.
 
Let me guess: You have never spent a night in jail because it would be against the law to be in jail with bare feet? :D
hahaha, good one Hobbit:hilarious:
 
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Actually, considering how the prison population in the United States keeps rising because of demanding more and more penalties in spite of the crime rate going down, if there were a law against being barefoot in jail, the US justice system would probably just use a prisoner being barefoot as an excuse to keep extending the sentence.
 
Sure wish stores would be more relaxed about shopping barefoot here. I attempted to do some quick shopping barefoot at the local Walmart this spring and was told to leave also. What's the big difference between shopping barefoot and shopping in your pajamas after just rolling out of bed in the morning? They don't seem to have a problem with the other clothing their shoppers wear. :confused:
 
I received a response from the store. They said it is a safety policy. Nothing about it being illegal. I sent back another note to the effect that it's not nice to lie and I don't think they can prove it is a safety issue and please don't make me feel like you are going to arrest me again when you have no basis for it.
 
I'm curious. Were you shopping in a small hometown type grocery store or a big chain store?
smallish grocery chain store, but the stores themselves are quite large, they are just limited to this region

I think Longboard may have quoted something from this paper before. http://www.barefooters.org/key-works/case_for/2.discrimination.html#2.4 They make a lot of good points and help me know how I might deal with this. Am definitely open to input from others, though. It's not that I want to cause trouble, but I've even gotten to the point where walking that far in flip-flops is uncomfortable. And why should they be lying and why should I constantly have to be concerned about leaving my stuff and going back out to the car?
 
Probably!
But the real reason is that I have my attorney on speed dial. Three times now I have contacted him while being detained by the athorities and subsequently told the cops that my lawyer says they are wrong.
I don't have a regular attorney! Good grief! What were they going to charge you with?!
 
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I received a response from the store. They said it is a safety policy. Nothing about it being illegal. I sent back another note to the effect that it's not nice to lie and I don't think they can prove it is a safety issue and please don't make me feel like you are going to arrest me again when you have no basis for it.
Ask them to showed you the written said "policy" or is just a made up as you go policy?
 
Ask them to showed you the written said "policy" or is just a made up as you go policy?
The store rep offered to email it to me, but I'm not going to trust just anything she emails me at this point when they are already lying on the store signs.