Montgomery County Fines Kids $500 for Operating a Lemonade Stand without a Vendor’s License

Children of two affluent American families, the Marriotts and Augustines opened a lemonade stand in their neighbor’s yard to raise money for charity. As this is a regular summer activity for children across United States, the kids didn’t think anything was wrong with opening shop.

According to Jennifer Hughes, the director of permitting for the county, it is illegal for even the smallest lemonade stand to open without a local business license. County inspectors, however, won’t go around looking for lemonade stands to fine.

The Augustine and Marriot lemonade sale stood out to county officials because of its size and location. The kids set up a 10 x 10 tent and were selling drinks out of four coolers. The U.S Open tournaments were taking place nearby and the kids were making hundreds of dollars by selling drinks to spectators.

According to the Associated Press, ‘Montgomery County spokeswoman Bonnie Ayers said this particular stand could create a safety hazard in an area where police want to keep vehicular and pedestrian traffic moving during the tournament.’

The children disregarded a county official’s warnings that they must obtain a vendor’s license or dismantle their stand. After warning them twice, the inspector issued a citation for operating a stand without a license, together with a $500 fine and a requirement to appear in court.

In the ensuing rage by Americans across the country at this injustice, county officials and the kids reached a compromise that the kids would move their stand down the street and the county would waive their need for a license.

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