Like when you go shopping at a store, and go through the checkout and on the way out an employee asked to see your receipt and look into your shopping bag, do they have a legal right to do so? I know your probably asking "if you have nothing to hide why don't you show your bag"...I'm just trying to find out what my legal rights are. The only exception I could find would be at Costco since you agree when getting a membership to consent to this search.
2007-09-02 08:46:57 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No, they don't. The only time I can think they may is when an alarm goes off when you leave.
2007-09-02 08:51:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say that they must have probable cause to search your bag. Randomly choosing customers to search is probably not legal. If the store has a legitimate reason to believe that you may have taken something, I think they might have the right to search you or at least the right to detain you until law enforcement arrives.
This is kind of a sticky situation. You want to protect the privacy rights of customers and also want to protect the property rights of the business.
2007-09-02 15:54:16 · answer #2 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have nothing to hide why care about this issue at all. Unless you are one of those who likes to sue anyone for anything. You don't need to worry about your rights unless you are guilty. Stores do have the right to protect their stock from theft and searching those leaving the premises is one way to do so. Those who steal cause prices to go up for me and I don't like that. To prevent this problem just check your bag at the cashier when entering the store.
2007-09-02 15:57:58 · answer #3 · answered by aswkingfish 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure about Canada, but laws vary from state to state in the US. Most larger stores have thier own policies, which are more restrictive than state law. Generally, the employee would have to articulate a suspicious activity to request a search. Even if the suspicous activity was innocent, it is usually enough to justify a search.
2007-09-02 15:53:21 · answer #4 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that a retail store has the right to ASK if they can search your bag upon suspicion of stealing. You have the right to refuse, and they cannot force you, but they still have the right to call the police or security, who would have the right to search your bag under suspicion.
2007-09-02 15:54:16 · answer #5 · answered by cassnate 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is reasonable suspicion, then yes. When I worked retail (a cd store), we had to physically see someone conceal a product or hear them tearing the plastic off a cd. Then we would ask to see their bags. If not, then we'd have to wait to see if the alarm went off.
2007-09-02 15:58:46 · answer #6 · answered by tigerrrgrrl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you check your bag before entering, then no. If you don't check your bag, then yes. I assume you mean a shopping bag from another store and not a woman's purse.
2007-09-02 15:53:40 · answer #7 · answered by cireengineering 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they have the right to in the U.S. under the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
2007-09-02 15:54:10 · answer #8 · answered by jdfortunegirl448 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you pay then welcome them to do this, because the thief makes you and me pay more for what we buy. if you are honest then a thief does not care about you or your money.
2007-09-02 15:53:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋