ttweed
Well-known member
Yes, exactly--it's in the news story I linked to in my post.smkettner said:How exactly were outlets in SD getting plundered? Were RVs parking for the day and wheezing all the juice?
TT
Yes, exactly--it's in the news story I linked to in my post.smkettner said:How exactly were outlets in SD getting plundered? Were RVs parking for the day and wheezing all the juice?
I'm really going to have to disagree with you on this one. You've brought up "unsecured wireless" twice but I do not think that this is a fair comparison. Most areas I am aware of do not charge per KB - it's a flat-rate fee for data. Of course there are some exceptions and some limits but for the most part you pay per month and you have your access. I don't know anyone that does electricity that way. Additionally, as pointed out by Train a public access point is just that - a public access point. It was purposely set up for people to freely use it. But just because an outlet exists does not mean it was put there for public use.DarkStar said:I don't see why this would be any different then sitting down in a library or restaurant and using a public, unsecured wireless network for internet access...
If you are parking at a location where a power outlet is prominently located, unlocked, and has no signage to the contrary, I believe that it would be perfectly acceptable to plug into it (think about motor block heaters in Canada and Alaska).
JasonT said:I'm really going to have to disagree with you on this one. You've brought up "unsecured wireless" twice but I do not think that this is a fair comparison. Most areas I am aware of do not charge per KB - it's a flat-rate fee for data. Of course there are some exceptions and some limits but for the most part you pay per month and you have your access. I don't know anyone that does electricity that way. Additionally, as pointed out by Train a public access point is just that - a public access point. It was purposely set up for people to freely use it. But just because an outlet exists does not mean it was put there for public use.DarkStar said:I don't see why this would be any different then sitting down in a library or restaurant and using a public, unsecured wireless network for internet access...
There are some that will argue that any unsecured wireless point should be a free for all, but even if you disagree you're still (in most cases) not costing that person any money.
planet4ever said:EVDRIVER and Train: Just so you don't feel like lonely prophets in the desert, I agree with you.
dday said:I agree if I came home and found you plugged in to my outlet I would not be happy. If your driving by and stop in and ask I would have no problem letting you charge up. Asking can get you alot of things.
Couldn't have said it better myself!Jimmydreams said:I would argue that if you were legitimately patronizing the location, and the parking area was specifically FOR said location AND the outlet was not locked or marked, then you are merely using an extension (no pun intended) of what the business was already providing for you. But ALL the above have to be met.
If you're paying for parking in a garage, then what you pay provides you the lights, elevators, etc. I would argue that the outlet (again, NOT locked and NOT marked) is just like the elevator: I paid for it, I can use it. If a business provides parking for it's customers and there is an outlet there, who is to say it's not provided for the use of the patrons of the business that already provided the parking?
charlie1300 said:Unless the outlet has a sign that says "free EV charging here!", it is rude and presumptuous just to plug in without asking permission. It's not an issue of how many $$ worth of KW you are taking. It's that you are just taking it! Parking garages may have electrical outlets scattered around, but isn't that for their maintenance purposes?
Jimmydreams said:charlie1300 said:Unless the outlet has a sign that says "free EV charging here!", it is rude and presumptuous just to plug in without asking permission. It's not an issue of how many $$ worth of KW you are taking. It's that you are just taking it! Parking garages may have electrical outlets scattered around, but isn't that for their maintenance purposes?
So if a parking garage that you're paying $5/hour to park in has stairs AND elevators, which one is for you to use and which one is for maintenance to use? Neither are clearly marked....but one uses a lot of power and the other doesn't.
Outlet boxes can be marked or not. They can ALSO be easily locked. Or not. In the absence of neither, and I'm legitimately parking there, I'll consider it available for my use.
Then you stop patronizing the business and the parking manager gets firedcharlie1300 said:And after you just take it, and the garage manager gets pissed, what's going to be his reaction to the next EV owner who politely asks permission?
EVDRIVER said:Jimmydreams said:charlie1300 said:Unless the outlet has a sign that says "free EV charging here!", it is rude and presumptuous just to plug in without asking permission. It's not an issue of how many $$ worth of KW you are taking. It's that you are just taking it! Parking garages may have electrical outlets scattered around, but isn't that for their maintenance purposes?
So if a parking garage that you're paying $5/hour to park in has stairs AND elevators, which one is for you to use and which one is for maintenance to use? Neither are clearly marked....but one uses a lot of power and the other doesn't.
Outlet boxes can be marked or not. They can ALSO be easily locked. Or not. In the absence of neither, and I'm legitimately parking there, I'll consider it available for my use.
You are using straw man arguments to justify your actions. Business need to have lighting and it's usually a fixed cost each month they try to reduce with the shortest hours, more efficient bulbs etc. If you parked in my lot and did that and I caught you doing this without asking and that was your explanation I would have asked if I could come to your home or business and grab some extra supplies or perhaps dump my two bags of garbage in your trash because I bought something from you once. I bet if the situation were reversed and your electric bill went up $1K a month you would have new view on right and wrong. But justify away, it's the American way. We should start a thread on 1000 way s to justify taking something.
I was at Costco the other day and saw a woman taking at least 50 plastic bags off the reel at the meat dept. I asked her why she needed so many and she said she uses them at home. Somehow I don't think that Costco factors that in to their costs and when many people do crap like that it gets expensive. It's the same for plugin in where it is clearly not stipulated for customers. Somehow I think Costco expected one bag per item needed to wrap. Patronizing a business does not entitle anyone to free charging unless they offer it, parking yes.
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