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Life is an experiment
You are driving down the highway when suddenly $20 bills start falling from the sky.
Those who picked up mystery money in Oklahoma City could face larceny charges
Police still don't know who lost a bag full of money on Interstate 40 near Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City earlier this week. But they say those who picked up the money could face charges if they don't try to find the rightful owner.
BY BRYAN DEAN bdean@opubco.com Oklahoman
76Published: October 27, 2011
You are driving down the highway when suddenly $20 bills start falling from the sky. What do you do?
Dozens of motorists along Interstate 40 on Monday decided to stop and grab as much as they could. Now they could face criminal charges.
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Cash flies on OKC highway, Oct. 24, 2011
Oct 24A bank bag that burst open on I-40 near Meridian Avenue...
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Those who picked up mystery money in Oklahoma City could face larceny charges
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Dorinda Rose said she was driving west on I-40 about 2:45 p.m. when traffic in front of her began to stop near Meridian Avenue. Rose, who works for the American Red Cross and is medically trained, feared a traffic accident. So she stopped to see if she could help.
She found dozens of cars pulled over and people picking up handfuls of cash that were blowing across the road.
There were people everywhere, Rose said. There were people running across the interstate dodging cars trying to pick up money.
Rose said she immediately realized someone was going to miss such a large amount of cash, so she started collecting what she could.
She picked up a little over $400. But she had no inclination to keep it.
Several people were talking about how they were going to get new shoes or pay their electric bills, Rose said. I said, This money needs to be turned in.' They just ignored me.
Rose turned in the money she picked up to Oklahoma City police. A paramedic with the Emergency Medical Services Authority also turned in a significant amount of cash, along with the empty First Fidelity Bank bag that likely held the money before it spilled onto the highway.
What's the crime?
Police won't say how much money they have or how much they think passing motorists took. Rose said she saw several empty wrappers with labels reading $2,000.
So far, no one has made a legitimate claim to the money, Oklahoma City police Sgt. Gary Knight said. But that doesn't mean those who stopped to pick up the cash are off the hook.
State law requires those who find money or property to attempt to locate the owner. Those who don't could be charged with larceny. If they found more than $500 and didn't report it, they could be found guilty of grand larceny, a felony.
Knight said if one or more people come forward to claim the money, a judge will ultimately decide the rightful owner.
If no one claims the cash after 45 days, it will go back to those who turned it in.
Rose said she is surprised more people didn't follow her example. When she came across the scene, she was on her way to get uniforms for a Special Olympics team she works with.
I had enough money in my hands to pay for the Special Olympic team uniforms that I needed, she said. But that wouldn't have helped my kids. That's the wrong message to send.
Read more: http://newsok.com/those-who-picked-u...#ixzz1c7cOT8Ie
Those who picked up mystery money in Oklahoma City could face larceny charges
Police still don't know who lost a bag full of money on Interstate 40 near Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City earlier this week. But they say those who picked up the money could face charges if they don't try to find the rightful owner.
BY BRYAN DEAN bdean@opubco.com Oklahoman
You are driving down the highway when suddenly $20 bills start falling from the sky. What do you do?
Dozens of motorists along Interstate 40 on Monday decided to stop and grab as much as they could. Now they could face criminal charges.
File photo
Multimedia
Videoview all videos
Cash flies on OKC highway, Oct. 24, 2011
Oct 24A bank bag that burst open on I-40 near Meridian Avenue...
Photoview all photos
Those who picked up mystery money in Oklahoma City could face larceny charges
NewsOK Related Articles
- No one has reported losing money in west Oklahoma City
10/25/2011 No one has claimed a lost bag of money and none of the money reportedly found by motorists has been turned in, Oklahoma City police said. - Burst money bag causes highway free-for-all in...
10/25/2011 A bank bag that burst open on Interstate 40 near Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City caused people to ditch their cars and scramble for the loose cash.
Dorinda Rose said she was driving west on I-40 about 2:45 p.m. when traffic in front of her began to stop near Meridian Avenue. Rose, who works for the American Red Cross and is medically trained, feared a traffic accident. So she stopped to see if she could help.
She found dozens of cars pulled over and people picking up handfuls of cash that were blowing across the road.
There were people everywhere, Rose said. There were people running across the interstate dodging cars trying to pick up money.
Rose said she immediately realized someone was going to miss such a large amount of cash, so she started collecting what she could.
She picked up a little over $400. But she had no inclination to keep it.
Several people were talking about how they were going to get new shoes or pay their electric bills, Rose said. I said, This money needs to be turned in.' They just ignored me.
Rose turned in the money she picked up to Oklahoma City police. A paramedic with the Emergency Medical Services Authority also turned in a significant amount of cash, along with the empty First Fidelity Bank bag that likely held the money before it spilled onto the highway.
What's the crime?
Police won't say how much money they have or how much they think passing motorists took. Rose said she saw several empty wrappers with labels reading $2,000.
So far, no one has made a legitimate claim to the money, Oklahoma City police Sgt. Gary Knight said. But that doesn't mean those who stopped to pick up the cash are off the hook.
State law requires those who find money or property to attempt to locate the owner. Those who don't could be charged with larceny. If they found more than $500 and didn't report it, they could be found guilty of grand larceny, a felony.
Knight said if one or more people come forward to claim the money, a judge will ultimately decide the rightful owner.
If no one claims the cash after 45 days, it will go back to those who turned it in.
Rose said she is surprised more people didn't follow her example. When she came across the scene, she was on her way to get uniforms for a Special Olympics team she works with.
I had enough money in my hands to pay for the Special Olympic team uniforms that I needed, she said. But that wouldn't have helped my kids. That's the wrong message to send.
Read more: http://newsok.com/those-who-picked-u...#ixzz1c7cOT8Ie
