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I have an interesting NC/SC story - There's a discount wine/liquor store right across the state line from the Carowinds amusement park (in Charlotte). People fr

by chiph 9y ago

I have an interesting NC/SC story - There's a discount wine/liquor store right across the state line from the Carowinds amusement park (in Charlotte). People from North Carolina were driving down and loading up (which is different from "getting loaded"...) their cars to save some money. The NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Board took exception to this (loss of tax revenue, possible blue-law violations, etc.) and sent one of their officers down there. He sat in the parking lot and would radio the license plates of cars with North Carolina tags that he observed buying large quantities of booze on to a team of agents waiting on I-77. Who would then pull the buyers over and charge them with bootlegging. The South Carolina Highway Patrol got wind of this and sent several officers to the parking lot to explain to the North Carolina revenuer the concept of jurisdiction, and how he was out of his.

huehehue 9y ago
The fact that interstate bootlegging is something that even exists blows my mind. Feels like the states are all part of the same system until you hit stuff like archaic blue laws, marijuana laws, abortion laws, auto insurance, and (recently) gay marriage. Those are all important things, and it's pretty frustrating not to have the same rights in some states as I do in others. I'm surprised (but glad) there aren't state border crossing stops yet. This is small stuff like getting wine and fireworks across state lines, I can't begin to imagine how someone who needs an abortion must feel about it.
- CocaKoala 9y ago
  > there aren't state border crossing stops yet Actually, funny story, when I was driving from Seattle to California a few years back, we got stopped around the Oregon-California border for a checkpoint. They ask questions to make sure you aren't importing fruits or plant matter that might be carrying pests non-native to the area (think "emerald ash borer" if you aren't sure what they're looking for). Anyways, I didn't realize what was happening for a moment, and thought it was a toll road. It was a very awkward moment when I tried to hand the guy some cash as he walked up to my window.
busterarm 9y ago
Awesome story...and I think I know the exact discount liquor store you're talking about, too...

by chiph 9y ago

huehehue 9y ago

The fact that interstate bootlegging is something that even exists blows my mind. Feels like the states are all part of the same system until you hit stuff like archaic blue laws, marijuana laws, abortion laws, auto insurance, and (recently) gay marriage. Those are all important things, and it's pretty frustrating not to have the same rights in some states as I do in others. I'm surprised (but glad) there aren't state border crossing stops yet. This is small stuff like getting wine and fireworks across state lines, I can't begin to imagine how someone who needs an abortion must feel about it.

CocaKoala 9y ago
> there aren't state border crossing stops yet Actually, funny story, when I was driving from Seattle to California a few years back, we got stopped around the Oregon-California border for a checkpoint. They ask questions to make sure you aren't importing fruits or plant matter that might be carrying pests non-native to the area (think "emerald ash borer" if you aren't sure what they're looking for). Anyways, I didn't realize what was happening for a moment, and thought it was a toll road. It was a very awkward moment when I tried to hand the guy some cash as he walked up to my window.

busterarm 9y ago

Awesome story...and I think I know the exact discount liquor store you're talking about, too...