Lawyer Warns About Hidden Dangers Of Self-Checkout Lanes

Jul 19, 2022 by apost team

An Arkansas woman posted on the social media platform, TikTok, advising her audience on the true breadth and extent of the law. Speaking as a criminal defense attorney, Carrie Jernigan, used the space to discuss legal misconceptions and endangering situations that otherwise law-abiding citizens might find themselves in. While most people know that it's illegal to speed or steal, Jernigan's content shows just how thin the line between right and wrong can be. 

Unlike other TikTokers who dance and lip sync, Jernigan illuminates some of the grey areas where people may be unknowingly committing a crime. In June 2022, she advised shoppers, of big box stores, in particular, to be wary of self-checkout lanes. Taking her inspiration from the "Legally Blonde" character Elle Woods, Jernigan warned unsuspecting shoppers against the quick and easy lanes, given shoppers may absentmindedly forget to scan an item. The seemingly innocent activity, Jernigan reported, has been landing shoppers in trouble and in jail. 

Long-term followers of the lawyer may have been somewhat shocked that Jernigan started producing such serious, legal content. Initially, Jernigan had gone viral in 2019 for buying the entire stock of a shuttering Payless Shoes. While at the liquidation sale, Jernigan's daughter had asked if she could buy shoes for a classmate in need. Jernigan had another idea: purchase them all. One phone call to the regional manager later, and almost 100 boxes were being loaded into a trailer. In total, she bought about 1,500 pairs, for both children and adults, all to be donated. 

Since, Jernigan has refined her content, focusing on what she posts to primarily relate to the law. While she still uploads videos of her out-of-office life, she has gained popularity as an advice-giver for people who find themselves unexpectedly breaking laws. 

In her next viral moment, Jernigan explained there are three types of shoplifters: those that do so purposefully, those that just plain forget and are caught by security at the door, and those, who Jernigan described as "truly innocent." 

This group is not being charged the day of. They were being tracked down after the fact using video of the self-checkout lanes. Jernigan elaborated, describing how a store will attempt to make up for unaccounted-for items by sifting through hours upon hours of security footage, trying to catch an unsuspecting customer. 

They're trying to find "the last person who checked out with the Mario Lego set because they're two short," Jernigan explained. "Because of who these big box stores are, they usually have to present very little evidence to get an affidavit for warrant signed, the charges that could land you up to a year in jail get filed, and then you are fighting for your life trying to determine what day you were at Walmart, what all you bought." 

She continued, saying, "Big-box businesses aren't going to spend their time and resources trying to figure out if you did it on purpose." As a result, innocent shoppers are being charged. In response, one commenter relayed how this happened to her family. "My mom accidentally left a tiny $3 lemon oil in her cart after buying $300 in groceries. She was charged with theft and had to do community service." Others posted about similar situations, proving that Jernigan was more than right to warn us.

apost.com

Have you ever forgotten something in your cart and gotten caught after the fact? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and fellow TikTokers!