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Problems led to crackdown at Burger King
Tom Joyce
Staff Reporter
Problems with drinking, spinning tires and customer complaints led to a recent crackdown on loitering at Burger King in Mount Airy, a restaurant official said Sunday.
“It was just getting out of hand,” said Shirley Carpenter, the manager of the U.S. 601 business where crowds of youths often gathered in the parking lot on weekend nights to socialize.
“The cops had been called about every night,” Carpenter added.
During this weekend, however, the lot seemed bare of everyone but customers, which can be traced to a rash of trespassing citations that were issued on the night of Friday, April 25. At the request of the manager, seven persons were cited for second-degree trespassing by Mount Airy police, who had responded to a large crowd in the lot which Carpenter said was causing problems.
“I have warned them several times,” said the Burger King official, who added that signage had been posted in the area aimed at discouraging crowds from gathering. “They know they weren't supposed to be there.”
Such gatherings had posed problems off and on for years, but recently had become unmanageable, Carpenter said. This included the tire spinning, drinking, loud behavior and additional problems that were driving customers away. “There was a lot of things,” she said.
Among the warnings Carpenter said she gave the youths was a suggestion that they at least buy a drink or food item from the business, which would have justified their presence there to an extent. But mostly, they were just choosing the parking lot to congregate - which in turn was presenting problems to those trying to negotiate their way through to reach the restaurant, she said.
“That makes it hard on the elderly people trying to get in the parking lot,” Carpenter said.
However, there are some who question what occurred on April 25. One is Linda Adame, whose husband, Juan Adame, was among those cited for second-degree trespassing.
“I was kind of a victim of circumstance,” said Adame, who said that she, her husband and their 2-year-old were on they way home from Arby's nearby when they decided to stop by the Burger King lot and hand out some flyers for an upcoming car show.
“We hadn't even been there for a minute. Then the police started coming in,” Adame said.
The woman added that some of those cited complained to police that they thought they had permission from the Burger King management to be there. Officers also didn't buy her husband's story that he was just passing through to distribute flyers after recognizing a couple of individuals there.
“It was just from pulling into the Burger King parking lot,” she said of the trespassing citation. “It's embarrassing.”
Adame agrees that crowd-control issues have occurred with people playing loud music and causing other problems, but “that needs to be addressed on an individual basis,” she said.
Last year, problems from youths gathering at the rear of Cook Out, another restaurant on U.S. 601, led to numerous charges being issued by city police for drug, drinking, weapons and other violations. That eventually led Cook Out officials to install a fence in their parking lot which effectively took away that gathering spot.
Carpenter, the Burger King manager, applauds the efforts by city police to keep “cruisers” from getting out of hand along the route, but believes they do need a place to socialize that won't cause problems for others.
Staff Reporter
Problems with drinking, spinning tires and customer complaints led to a recent crackdown on loitering at Burger King in Mount Airy, a restaurant official said Sunday.
“It was just getting out of hand,” said Shirley Carpenter, the manager of the U.S. 601 business where crowds of youths often gathered in the parking lot on weekend nights to socialize.
“The cops had been called about every night,” Carpenter added.
During this weekend, however, the lot seemed bare of everyone but customers, which can be traced to a rash of trespassing citations that were issued on the night of Friday, April 25. At the request of the manager, seven persons were cited for second-degree trespassing by Mount Airy police, who had responded to a large crowd in the lot which Carpenter said was causing problems.
“I have warned them several times,” said the Burger King official, who added that signage had been posted in the area aimed at discouraging crowds from gathering. “They know they weren't supposed to be there.”
Such gatherings had posed problems off and on for years, but recently had become unmanageable, Carpenter said. This included the tire spinning, drinking, loud behavior and additional problems that were driving customers away. “There was a lot of things,” she said.
Among the warnings Carpenter said she gave the youths was a suggestion that they at least buy a drink or food item from the business, which would have justified their presence there to an extent. But mostly, they were just choosing the parking lot to congregate - which in turn was presenting problems to those trying to negotiate their way through to reach the restaurant, she said.
“That makes it hard on the elderly people trying to get in the parking lot,” Carpenter said.
However, there are some who question what occurred on April 25. One is Linda Adame, whose husband, Juan Adame, was among those cited for second-degree trespassing.
“I was kind of a victim of circumstance,” said Adame, who said that she, her husband and their 2-year-old were on they way home from Arby's nearby when they decided to stop by the Burger King lot and hand out some flyers for an upcoming car show.
“We hadn't even been there for a minute. Then the police started coming in,” Adame said.
The woman added that some of those cited complained to police that they thought they had permission from the Burger King management to be there. Officers also didn't buy her husband's story that he was just passing through to distribute flyers after recognizing a couple of individuals there.
“It was just from pulling into the Burger King parking lot,” she said of the trespassing citation. “It's embarrassing.”
Adame agrees that crowd-control issues have occurred with people playing loud music and causing other problems, but “that needs to be addressed on an individual basis,” she said.
Last year, problems from youths gathering at the rear of Cook Out, another restaurant on U.S. 601, led to numerous charges being issued by city police for drug, drinking, weapons and other violations. That eventually led Cook Out officials to install a fence in their parking lot which effectively took away that gathering spot.
Carpenter, the Burger King manager, applauds the efforts by city police to keep “cruisers” from getting out of hand along the route, but believes they do need a place to socialize that won't cause problems for others.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mtairynews.com.
Jen wrote on May 5, 2008 7:36 AM:
" This is complete bs. I hate to point it out. But I'm originally from Mt Airy and when I come up on the weekends I want to hang out with my friends, whether it be Burger King or wherever. However, the whole spill about us "being in the way" thats horse crap. We don't park next to the doors, nor do we park in the handicapped spots, therefore it shouldn't pose a problem with the elderly and they're my only concern with this issue. Unfortunately, Linda Adame was correct, they were passing out flyers for the Southern Spring Showdown sponsored by his car club, Wicked Visions. Too bad the officers are just looking for someone to harass.. we could be out doing/dealing drugs.. we're harmlessly trying to find somewhere to gather to meet up with friends. "
David wrote on May 8, 2008 8:28 AM:
" Hey, Jen why don't you try meeting in your front yard at YOUR house.... "
Jessica wrote on May 10, 2008 11:57 AM:
" Why can't the people, including the commenter, find a place to hang out that does not make it look like they are loitering in a parking lot? Go to one of our nice restaurants and sit down and eat. You can stay after you finish eating and have conversations! Go to a friend's house, and sit on the porch or in the living room. If you want to stand around your cars, if that is what is the important part, then do that in your driveways! I do not understand why it has to be in the parking lot of a fast food place that is trying to serve customers. If you went inside the same restaurant and sat at tables, eating food and talking, they would leave you alone! Then, go back to a house and hang out, or go somewhere else - bowling alley, movie theatre, the mall for shopping, walmart, one of the coffee shops, etc. You are in the way. The guys in the parking lot yell at young girls and harrass them. These girls are my students and they talk about it. Their parents complain to Burger King. Lots of people complain to Burger King. I know I have. One night, I was there and the bass from one car was so loud, my car was shaking and I couldn't hear the speaker in drive through. I complained. Burger King wants to keep their customers, so they call the police. Do not hang out in fast food parking lots, or any parking lot, for that matter. This is not an appropriate place to hang out, plus their are laws against loitering, no matter what your personal feelings are! "
Former Cruiser wrote on May 14, 2008 7:21 AM:
" Dang Dave and Jessica, were the both of you born old, I cant blame these kids for wanting a good place to hang out, the whole area is so boring they need somewhere to meet up and talk, show off the rides thier proud of. When I was young we used to hang out in Elkin and cruise and loved it, but of course the tight@## powers that be put a stop to that as well. The people of the area better wake up cause your gonna lose all of your young people after they get of age cause the whole area only caters to the elderly and praises those youths who participate in H.S. sports, oh and of course ANDY!!! "
Old School wrote on May 19, 2008 9:10 PM:
" Former Cruiser...How about YOU allowing them to come & hang out at YOUR Place? They won't be no bother.After all they are just Sweet Young People with nowhere to go...Put your money where your mouth is & you will need plenty of it...LOL..Obviously you HAVE forgotten..LOL... "
