Street v. State

307 Md. 262 (1986)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Valerie McNeal, got into D's cab. When the cab reached McNeal's destination, the meter read $2.50. McNeal had $2.46 in change, plus one ten-dollar bill and one twenty-dollar bill. McNeal offered D the ten-dollar bill. D refused the bill, citing a city ordinance that provides that cab drivers need not carry more than $5.00 in change. D rejected McNeal's suggestion that one or both of them obtain change for the ten-dollar bill at a nearby establishment. McNeal attempted to get out of the cab, but the rear doors were locked. D refused to disengage the locks. The parties argued for approximately twenty-five minutes. McNeal finally managed to obtain the assistance of a passerby, Cora Williams, and negotiated a now $5.20 bill as the meter had been running. A police officer eventually arrived on the scene and D finally released McNeal from the cab. D was charged with false imprisonment and convicted. The trial judge sentenced D to one-year imprisonment and a $500 fine with the prison term suspended in favor of three years probation. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed the circuit court's judgment. D appealed.