Bag tax enforcement in Montgomery Co, MD is absurd

[Screw_Michigan]

Specifically, the RETAILERS' enforcement of the bag tax is absolutely out of control and borderline authoritarian. This is the second time I have had issues with a retailer refusing to provide a customer satisfaction and using the bag tax as an excuse to be stingy. If I had a nickle, I'd give you one. If I don't, do not be stiffing a paying customer over a five-cent bag. What ever happened to customer satisfaction?

I went to Best Buy a few weeks ago to buy a new phone. Spent $150. Because it was right after 1/1 when the new bag tax became law, I forgot about the tax, so I didn't ask for a bag because I didn't think I'd have so much packaging to carry home. I politely asked for one and they told me no. I asked to speak with a manager, whom I politely informed that if I had change, I'd pay for the bag, but because I don't have any change, he can either process the purchase of the bag as a credit transaction, where he'd lose probably 45 cents on the deal, or I could return my purchase immediately and take my business to another store. He politely gave me a bag.

Tonight at the Safeway in Rockville, I bought some groceries. I asked the cashier for bags. The dude takes all my shit and jams it into one bag. We're talking gallons of liquid and stuff to the point this bag would have exploded in the parking lot. I politely asked for another bag, and considering I asked for it, I expected to get it. Dude said I had to pay for it. I informed the cashier I asked for two bags and it wasn't my fault he didn't ring it up properly. Dude tells me tough and gives me attitude. Now THIS TIME I did have a nickel, and GOD DAMN IT I was gonna get my bag for free. I pulled my best Michael Jordan Defensive Player of the Year-era swipe at a basketball and ripped a bag off the holder. He goes "YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE A BAG!" I remind him I just did.

The point of the bag tax is ELIMINATING THE EXCESS TRASH, NOT ACCOUNTING FOR EVERY SINGLE FUCKING BAG THAT COMES IN AND OUT OF THE STORE.

DC's tax is doing it right. It's mostly voluntary in its enforcement, the grocery stores aren't stingy over bags.

[Dinsdale]

I thought you were a liberal?

Or just when it inconveniences/costs someone else?

No bag tax here. But City of Portland banned plastic grocery bags, and the state might follow suit. Only for big retailers, though. Gookmarts still have plastic.

Fuggit, paper is fine. Stay upright in the truck/trunk, and last I checked, paper comes from the U&L.

[Screw_Michigan]

I don't object to the tax, but I object to the way they are enforcing it. I'll pay for lots of bags over the year, don't be screwing me when I really need one.

[War Wagon]

I bought these handy reusable grocery bags... and forget to take them with me damn near every time I go to the store because that's how insipid Alzheimers disease and I roll.

Maybe if they outlawed plastic bags around here I'd remember, but for sure I hate seeing plastic bags hanging off tree branches all over town.

KC really is a trashy city. I can't believe all the garbage I see by the road. I don't understand why people throw their trash out the window instead of just keeping it in the car until the opportunity arises to dispose of it properly.

Is it like this elsewhere? I mean, are people so pissed off and inconsiderate of society that they actually enjoy littering? I'm as pissed off as the next guy, but c'mon. It's not just laziness, it's overt taking a dump in public.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Just buy a couple of those nylon grocery bags and call it a day. Seems a lot easier than melting down across multiple forums.

I don't understand why people throw their trash out the window instead of just keeping it in the car until the opportunity arises to dispose of it properly.

Don't worry, the DOT will be by later to pick that up.

-Pathetic Loser

[BSmack]

Maybe if they outlawed plastic bags around here I'd remember, but for sure I hate seeing plastic bags hanging off tree branches all over town.

What they hell kind of ghetto do you live in?

[War Wagon]

One with a lot of trees.

[Van]

In K.C. that's considered "art."

[Screw_Michigan]

Just buy a couple of those nylon grocery bags and call it a day. Seems a lot easier than melting down across multiple forums.

It's fucking bullshit and you know it. Those nylon bags are great for people with vehicles. Throw it in your trunk or backseat and forget about it.

[poptart]

bag tax






































What are as painful as Mistress Evita's butt plug?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Those nylon bags are great for people with vehicles. Throw it in your trunk or backseat and forget about it.

Uhh, they're also great if you're walking, utilizing public transit, etc.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

KC really is a trashy city. I can't believe all the garbage I see by the road. I don't understand why people throw their trash out the window instead of just keeping it in the car until the opportunity arises to dispose of it properly.

So what you're saying is... Kansas Shitty really is a haven for fat, lazy slobs. I am shocked.

Why am I picturing Paul driving home from work... his pudgy fingers, Jabbah The Hut face, and size XXXXL sweatsuit just covered in BBQ sauce. Tossing one McRib sandwich wrapper out of his F-350 after another.

[BSmack]

Just buy a couple of those nylon grocery bags and call it a day. Seems a lot easier than melting down across multiple forums.

It's fucking bullshit and you know it. Those nylon bags are great for people with vehicles. Throw it in your trunk or backseat and forget about it.

You don't have a vehicle?

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

A lot of 20-somethings who live in cities don't own vehicles, B. I work with plenty of 'em.

[Mikey]

I don't object to the tax, but I object to the way they are enforcing it. I'll pay for lots of bags over the year, don't be screwing me when I really need one.

Most people would learn after the first incident. Get your shit together of just off yourself.

[Dinsdale]

I don't object to the tax, but I object to the way they are enforcing it. I'll pay for lots of bags over the year, don't be screwing me when I really need one.

Great theory.

I pay for metric shit tonnes of beer over the year, so I deserve a freebie when I don't have any scratch in my pocket.

[Dinsdale]

Is it like this elsewhere? I mean, are people so pissed off and inconsiderate of society that they actually enjoy littering? I'm as pissed off as the next guy, but c'mon. It's not just laziness, it's overt taking a dump in public.

Interesting topic.

Driving south, it always shocks me when I hit Salem, there's such a stark difference -- trash all overthe place. I guess it mirrors the trash in the Capitol.

"Clean" is pretty subjective, with many different factors that can be taken into consideration.

There's this: http://www.rd.com/travel/50-cleanest-di ... n-america/


Forbes likes Florida: http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/17/miami- ... anest.html


Another opinion: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011 ... merica.php


There seems to be a consistant theme among them -- my town scores high in all of them.

Chucking trash out your car window can get you killed around here.

[smackaholic]

wonder how much dough that nickel tax is putting in gubmint coffers?

we really do need to just stand the lot of them up against a wall and shoot them.

[Dinsdale]

Funny how Screwey thinks he should get to pick and choose when he pays taxes.

Wonder how he feels about corporations and millionaires doing the same thing?

[smackaholic]

Is it like this elsewhere? I mean, are people so pissed off and inconsiderate of society that they actually enjoy littering? I'm as pissed off as the next guy, but c'mon. It's not just laziness, it's overt taking a dump in public.

Interesting topic.

Driving south, it always shocks me when I hit Salem, there's such a stark difference -- trash all overthe place. I guess it mirrors the trash in the Capitol.

"Clean" is pretty subjective, with many different factors that can be taken into consideration.

There's this: http://www.rd.com/travel/50-cleanest-di ... n-america/


Forbes likes Florida: http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/17/miami- ... anest.html


Another opinion: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011 ... merica.php


There seems to be a consistant theme among them -- my town scores high in all of them.

Chucking trash out your car window can get you killed around here.

is it a tax or a deposit? can i bring bags back and get a nickel?

i doubt it.

so, it really serves no purpose other than generating more cash.

as for the litter problem, there's a simple solution. so long as we have people on the dole, be it welfare or unemployment comp. we have trash picker uppers.

put the fukks to work.

[Screw_Michigan]

You don't have a vehicle?

Nope, haven't had a car since I moved here, which is one reason why I moved here and is the #1 goal I have as long as I live here. The metro area is too expensive and I like the exercise and the lifestyle. I have a Zipclub membership and I can always rent one.

So Spray, there's three things I don't know: A car and a washer and dryer.

[Goober McTuber]

So Spray, there's three things I don't know: A car and a washer and dryer.

There's a whole fucking list of things you don't know, Screwball. Fall under a bus, you worthless bag of fuck.

[smackaholic]

So Spray, there's three things I don't know: A car and a washer and dryer.

You left out inside of a vagina.

As least you do know the ball sack hanging beneath it. I guess it's a start.

[Left Seater]

Two ways of skinning this cat, extra trash/litter. One way as described above is to tax you for the bags. As has been discussed above this is just a way to raise more money.

Another approach that I see a ton of down here and in other southern and southwestern states is for stores to pay you if you don't use their bags. In other words if you hand the checker at the grocery store five of those reusable shopping bags they take 50 cents off of your total. No money has to go thru the govt hands and it has the same effect of reducing trash. In fact I would say far more participate this way than would do so if faced with paying extra for the bags. In this case screwy would still get the bags he needed, while War wagon would have another incentive to remember them.

Pretty clear cut difference between mindsets too. In one the govt grows and takes more money. In the other business and citizens remove govt to get to the same place.

[Derron]

Back in my traveling days for business, I was pretty much all over the US. One thing became apparent fast, east of the Miss River, all you people just throw your trash out the window. St Louis east, the freeways are just covered in trash. Around Baltimore at BWI, trash everywhere. Rode a motor coach from Austin to Dallas,and when you started getting close to Dallas, the trash just kept getting worse. A lot of those plastic bags too.

Western US not so bad, although SoCal is pretty trashy too. Here in the U & L, all the DUI criminals get to go out and pick up trash, along with government make work project workers. Mid South was not too bad, but Baltimore, St Louis, DC, just fucking trash everywhere. Of course in Memphis all the black people just dump their trash in an empty lot and set it on fire. Fucking trash piles burning everywhere in that hole.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Another approach that I see a ton of down here and in other southern and southwestern states is for stores to pay you if you don't use their bags.

Same thing (in MA) where we shop, except it's only 5 cents/bag at our grocery store.

[Derron]

You don't have a vehicle?

Nope, haven't had a car since I moved here, which is one reason why I moved here and is the #1 goal I have as long as I live here. The metro area is too expensive and I like the exercise and the lifestyle. I have a Zipclub membership and I can always rent one.

So Spray, there's three things I don't know: A car and a washer and dryer.

You should move to Portland with all the rest of the bike utopia fags. I suppose if your life is that of an urban sewer dweller, and you never leave the city for any reason at all, not having wheels is a good thing. Those of us who prefer a bit more suburban lifestyle need a ride.

You could join the bike fags in ignoring all rules of the road and cause accidents all the time. Been a few months since a bike rider versus vehicle has made the news around here, so they are due. Bike fag believes that stop signs are not there, and that they have the right of way over a moving truck. Darwin scores occasionally there.

[Derron]

Another approach that I see a ton of down here and in other southern and southwestern states is for stores to pay you if you don't use their bags.

Same thing (in MA) where we shop, except it's only 5 cents/bag at our grocery store.

In Portland they have banned plastic bags. If it comes to a state wide thing ballot measure, Portland will be able to swing the vote, just like they did with Suzanne Boner replacing David " I am fucking crazy" Wu. Elsewhere in the state plastic bags are still the rule. Good thing, cause my neighbor stores everything in them in his hoard. Has thousands of them in his house.

When we go to the grocery store, the wife always asks for paper. Clerks look at her like she just told them to fuck off. She resuses the bags in her store and her sister uses them for selling and packing antiques. Recycling at work.

When governments get into the bag business with a tax, you truly know that the liberal socialist agenda has arrived.

[Left Seater]

Same thing (in MA) where we shop, except it's only 5 cents/bag at our grocery store.

Does MA still charge 5 cents a can deposit on coke and beer? When we lived up there, my wife would shop in Lincoln RI on her way home from work, which didn't charge a deposit. We would then give all the cans to a neighbor kid who returned them along with his scout troop as a way to raise money. Used to see a ton of barely road worth cars on I-95 exiting in South Attleboro, filled to the brim with cans to return for cash.

[Derron]

Same thing (in MA) where we shop, except it's only 5 cents/bag at our grocery store.

Does MA still charge 5 cents a can deposit on coke and beer? When we lived up there, my wife would shop in Lincoln RI on her way home from work, which didn't charge a deposit. We would then give all the cans to a neighbor kid who returned them along with his scout troop as a way to raise money. Used to see a ton of barely road worth cars on I-95 exiting in South Attleboro, filled to the brim with cans to return for cash.

You can thank Oregon for that, passing the nations first bottle bill in 1971. Still in law, it is the cottage industry for tweakers, since a lot of drunks still throw their beer and soda cans out the window. The tweakers roam the country side and city dumpsters to get the cans/bottles and take them to the return machines at grocery stores. Of course, these machines are occupied pretty much 24/7, and the tweaks spend the cash on smokes and more meth. I even had them come on my property and rifle my dumpster until the wolf malamute bit one in the ass one day. It is a pain in the ass to take them back. I don't drink beer or soda anymore, so we don't get them anymore. My boys had a pile of them this summer taking care of my place while I was in the hospital. I tired taking a few of them back, then heard the Demolay boys were having a can drive, so gave them all to them. Much easier.

The tweakers have " territories" and " machines" at the stores. Every couple of weeks or so, they duke it out or knife each other for territory encroachment or machine usurping.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Does MA still charge 5 cents a can deposit on coke and beer? When we lived up there, my wife would shop in Lincoln RI on her way home from work, which didn't charge a deposit. We would then give all the cans to a neighbor kid who returned them along with his scout troop as a way to raise money. Used to see a ton of barely road worth cars on I-95 exiting in South Attleboro, filled to the brim with cans to return for cash.

Yes. But we hardly drink soda or beer so I can't remember the last time we returned any. We do recycle and just leave any (usually none) bottles/cans in the bin for the local scavengers to rummage through every Sunday night.

We live on the North Shore (near tax free NH ) so we don't see too much of that RI action.

[Dinsdale]

The tweakers roam the country side and city dumpsters to get the cans/bottles and take them to the return machines at grocery stores.

Here at my "other home" in St. Johns, they go through the garbage cans when you roll them to the curb. They then take them to the Tweeker ATM.

And the residents here at the house put them out to the curb sunday night, and let them have them -- not worth the few bucks to have to deal with lining up for the tweeker ATM in St. Johns. Last time I tried it, a prototypical St. Johns tweeker got into a fistfight with a couple of welfare moms... who beat him down before I, or any of the other men present could even intervene. I retired from using the tweeker ATM after that.

Not nearly so bad in Tigard -- Jose' is much more polite.

[Screw_Michigan]

You should move to Portland with all the rest of the bike utopia fags. I suppose if your life is that of an urban sewer dweller, and you never leave the city for any reason at all, not having wheels is a good thing. Those of us who prefer a bit more suburban lifestyle need a ride.

Portland sucks. I like the metro area, I have no plans to leave. I actually don't live in DC anymore. NEWS FLASH I live in the suburb of Rockville now,NEWS FLASH, hence the Mont Co rant. Yes, Montgomery is considered a liberal county. I will be leaving Rockville soon, I'm hoping to land in Upper NW DC or Bethesda or downtown Silver Spring, MD.

I love the District but it's a grind (read: expensive) to find affordable housing in decent areas. Being VP of Jizzmopping is nice, but I could use more.