Police Shut Down 7-Year-Old's Lemonade Stand (VIDEO)

You're never too young to learn a life lesson - or, rather, a business lesson. As this local news report shows, the aptly named Daniela Earnest of Tulare, California had her lemonade stand shut down by town officials. (It turns out the stand lacked proper business permits.) Daniela, who's just seven years old, had the heartwarming goal to save enough money to send her family to Disney Land.

But, Daniela's lemonade stand ran afoul of local authorities, who said that the fledgling business was located in a dangerous intersection. Daniela eventually pled her case in front of the town council, which vowed to help her family find a safer location.

The story's happy ending? After seeing her story in the paper, a local radio station stepped in and came up with four day passes to Disney.

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Comments

[jswayze]

Its probably worth noting that it was a code enforcement officer, not a police officer. These days even dog catchers go call themselves officers, but it doesn't mean they are cops. Just wanted to make sure that people don't blame this one on the cops. I hope the headline to this story gets corrected. It is inaccurate. The cops in Tulare probably are looking for criminals. The girls parents probably could have picked a better place for their daughters stand. I bet the code enforcement "person" talked to them about it and the parents were jerks instead of being reasonable. I have no first hand information of this case but do have expierience seeing stories get spun when they make the news like this.

[sabrina105]

Thank you. The parents probably let her set up next to an eight lane intersection. At least she finally achieved her goal - Disney tickets.

[burningviolin]

I was shocked when I saw the intersection. That is no place for a kid to set up a lemonade stand. It is not only a danger to her, but to her customers and traffic in general. Sweet kid; jerky, dad.

[AContrario]

Law enforcement's finest. At least they didn't draw their weapons on
her...

[norepublicanleftbehind]

What kind of sick creeps shut down a little kids lemonade stand??? Tulare.. the new anal capitol of nanny government.

[moUSAnMe]

I didn't see any other business in the video. As long as the parents were there overseeing her operation, what and who was she hurting? I'd say the police in this instance over reacted.

[JLennon4Life]

Welcome to the real world, doesn't it suck?

[burtmckinly]

I didn't know people still went to Disneyland.

[Vernon Kelly]

the police, in this case, acted STUPIDLY!!

[Agentlady007]

I would love to pay this fine for her. This is what I am talking about. State regulations for little genius' should be exempt.

[burtmckinly]

Only at the lowest common denominator is selling lemonade considered genius.

[AContrario]

Yup.

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

I hate to ruin the day for all you freepers -- but Tulare County is the GOP's wet dream. Poor, rural, agriculture. Lots of good family farmers, pesticides, teabaggers, birthers -- the whole nine yards. Of course the radio station is obviously socialist, you know with all the redistribution of Disneyland tickets to people who clearly haven't earned them.

[Agentlady007]

If we the people do not write our congressmen and women on policies so out of date it would make ...never mind, we will end up socialist. Sit down and write a letter telling your state officials how out of date they are in current Bill of Rights policies and show examples. We need a revolution in America. !!!

[burtmckinly]

I'm a bit out of the loop so I have to ask, wh is everyone against teabagging these days?

[Faraja]

Warren Buffet in the making! I wish you all the best.

[DawnK]

Wow. I hope there was noone getting beaten, killed, raped or robbed that day. What a bunch of lowlifes going after a 7 year old. I'm sure that the citizens of that town would agree. Waste of money to bring her in and make her actually go in front of a judge. She was an easy target for lazy officials. No chasing, no danger and maybe a free lemonade.

[rkimball]

police will target children & unfastened seat belt drivers because they are easy targets. yet they ignore the the elephant in the room. mexican gangland drug wars in california & drive by shootings at malls & residential areas go unchallenged. police are cowards & will not go after anyone that fights back.

[Keith Mayass]

well she just learned that her first job will be in wall street or insurance.

instead of charging $2 for lemonade for an honest work, it is better to sell subprime loans and crash the financial system for several billion dollars.

if they are going to shut down your operation, you might as well get a few billions dollars bailout from the US government and a bonus in the process.

no point working for $2 a glass.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

You're right. The kid was doing honest work and working for what she wanted and not sitting on her bum asking for a handout. She's the great hope. I hope she doesn't lose her spirit.

[JackRusselTerrier]

That is just wrong.

[bluecollarblogger]

This is what is wrong with our society, parents want to instill positive work ethics, the value of money, hard work and our governments discourage it. I guess they would rather the kid was at home playing with a play station instead of being outside and earning a buck, and what about the permit! Was that not ridiculous, I believe that any kid that wants to mow a yard, rake leaves or sale lemonade should be given a certificate of accomplishment by the county rather than a ticket!