I've done it a number of times.

It's the only time I do it until I'm absolutely ready to buy. Any time I can avoid talking to a salesman I do it.

So I am a child of the 80s. I realize that times are changing.

I went to a big 3 oem dealership this afternoon (Sunday), it was raining a bit so I had my umbrella. Parked outside the gate, stepped over the low level bar and I had been on the lot about 10 minutes when a younger police officer started walking towards me.

Asked me what I was doing and if I knew the dealership was closed. I said yes, and explained I was walking the lot to see if anything caught my eye. I said I had been doing it my whole life like numerous people, and how its nice to look without worry about sales person breathing down neck.

The younger officer told me that being on a car dealership lot after hours when no one was around (even on a Sunday afternoon) was unreasonable and likely trespassing.

I told the cop I disagreed and that people do it all the time, but I would be happy to leave. We chatted back and forth and then started to escort me off the lot (willingly). Then the officer asked for ID....I said I had it, but that honestly she had no probable cause to be requesting it. For expediency ( I thought) i let the office have it and ran it......20 minutes later.....finally gave my ID back and let me go.

I've been driving for more than 25 years and have purchased multiple cars from the dealership.

It has kind of knocked me off balance a bit.

Ugh. The few have ruined things like this for everyone. Theres no reason for the police to worry about ppl walking the lots. Sorry that happened to you

Should have told the officer to stake out the lot every weekend. They will likely catch dozens of people checking out the inventory on any given Sunday. I would have said I'll be back next Sunday too, here or a different dealership until I make a purchase.

Likely their supervisor will tell them not to bother with this in the future.

Do it all the time. Sometimes you can even catch a car unlocked and get the full self guided tour.

Just call me Barry Sanders I'm so shifty.

On the opposite side of that coin, I've taken keys TO salespeople that were left in vehicles on 2-3 occasions.

These days with high def Internet connected cameras, private security, I'd think twice about it.

As far as confronting the police officer and playing jailhouse lawyer. Just stop.

You were trespassing, asked to leave private property, end of story.

The fact that it was a real police officer rather than a security guard doesn't really make any difference other than who they know and what they know. I'm sure there are some magic words they can say when they call it in, to make your evening miserable.

"Playing jailhouse lawyer"....well I mean I am a licensed attorney, but I agree with your point and why I told the officer I would be happy to leave immediately.

I walk lots after hours all the time.

I'm also of the opinion that police officers should make rational decisions about how they spend their time on shift. Assuming Katy wasn't walking the lot in a ski mask with her duffel bag full of tools to steal cars, it seems like a massive waste of time for the officer to bother with. I'm assuming that the rate of auto theft committed by middle aged professional women is pretty close to zero.

wow. the most i've ever had is a security guard come by. Check on me and ask if i wanted to leave my info for a salesman.

Quote:

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Look at this thread. We've got a licensed attorney admitting to knowingly trespassing. Hopefully that doesn't come up the next time you're in court processing a criminal trespass case. (I know, you're probably in corporate contract law or whatever)

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We get, you need to be right. let's move on.

I would definitely have gotten the hell out of there when asked, but I can't imagine that I'd ever give him my ID in this scenario.

I've done this many times.

I used to know a car salesman, who would spend a few hours on Sunday afternoon, at the dealership. When people would come up to look at cars, while the dealership was closed, he'd give them his card and tell them to call if they had any questions. He didn't stick around and bother them...just handed out cards. He made a lot of sales that way.

Update:

Had a constructive conversation with GM.

He said they absolutely welcome legitimate visitors on the lot, even after hours or on weekends.

Discussed their third party monitoring service and notice process. Its up to individual watching to make a judgement call on whether person is of concern. Possible that due to my hearing loss, I may not have heard a request to leave over the speaker system. (Definitely didnt hear anything, but as my spouse will confirm, doesn't mean it didnt happen). Apologized if that was the case and would definitely have left if I had heard such a request.

For those that mentioned unlocked vehicles, he said opening vehicle doors is a 100% ask to leave just to be safe. (Didn't open any doors yesterday, but wanted to share and something i will make sure not to do moving forward...understandable)

Apparently the police officer said i left before they arrived and didnt file a report. Which isnt true and probably was done to save paperwork. GM said he definitely doesn't think walking the lot after hours is suspicious or unreasonable.

Interesting things learned. While they dont have a problem with people looking after hours, this will probably change my vehicle shopping habits.

(Edit to correct typo)

AggieKatie2 said:

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"Playing jailhouse lawyer"....well I mean I am a licensed attorney, but I agree with your point and why I told the officer I would be happy to leave immediately.

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I'd file a complaint with the PD. You know they had no legal authority to ID you since you weren't legally arrested or detained, and you also know if you stood your ground, they would have made it painful.

Doubtful it does any good, but police need to learn Texas isn't a stop and ID state and they can't go around demanding ID from every person they encounter.

AggieKatie2 said:

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I agree she didn't need to ID me, but it wasn't worth it in moment. Like I said, I was willing to leave immediately.

I did politely encourage her to ask around, and pay closer attention to see just how many people do visit lots after hours and on Sunday.

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My statement to the cop would have been that they were welcome to run me off of the lot, but that I would be contacting the GM of the dealership and letting them know that the police harassment was the reason I would be buying a car somewhere else. I suspect the GM would be on the horn PDQ telling the PD to leave their lot off the list to patrol on sunday during daylight hours.

AggieKatie2 said:

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I agree she didn't need to ID me, but it wasn't worth it in moment. Like I said, I was willing to leave immediately.

I did politely encourage her to ask around, and pay closer attention to see just how many people do visit lots after hours and on Sunday.

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That's why I'd file a complaint. You weren't trespassing. She had no legal authority to ask you to leave, but you agreed anyway, and she still forced you to ID. We both know if you had refused, she would have claimed you were obstructing her investigation into "suspicious activity" or told you ID was mandatory and likely would have threatened to arrest you had you refused. Her not backing down when you mentioned PC tells everything.

Too many people let poor police behavior continue because they're afraid of retribution. As an attorney, you at least have the legal knowledge to try and force a little accountability.

Young Army....some of us "olds" like to see how the panels match up in person and how a few other odds and ends look. Things you won't get off the internet.

HollywoodBQ said:

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AggieKatie2 said:

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"Playing jailhouse lawyer"....well I mean I am a licensed attorney, but I agree with your point and why I told the officer I would be happy to leave immediately.

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Reminds me of the Covid era - "I'm a Doctor Dammit" people.
You don't have a medical degree so shut your pie hole.

I also used to go on dealer lots after hours in the 1980s and 1990s too. The 2020s are different. See all the flock camera automatic license plate reader threads.

There are just too many people out there doing too many dumb things and too much capability to collect too much information and use it against you.

Look at this thread. We've got a licensed attorney admitting to knowingly trespassing. Hopefully that doesn't come up the next time you're in court processing a criminal trespass case. (I know, you're probably in corporate contract law or whatever)

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Ok Karen

Haven't done it in a long time but I always see cars parked at dealership entrances on Sundays.