Moral Dilemma: What Would You Do?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Suppose you were taking a walk or a bike ride and came upon money blowing around on the ground. The money was not in a wallet and was a substantial amount-$465 (mostly $20's and $50's) when it was all counted up. While looking for more cash, you also find a student ID on the ground, but the ID is not physically touching, or even within a few feet of any of the cash. There is no wallet to be found, it is dark out, and you are on a sidewalk next to a well-traveled 6 lane road. How would you handle the situation?

I came across this very situation tonight. I made up my mind what to do, but I am not going to post my solution just yet. The question is: How would YOU handle it? Would you keep the money? Call the phone number on the ID card? Call the police and let them handle it? Or some other option that has not come to mind?

 

[Nightmare388]

I would keep the money and put the ID in the guys mailbox.

 

[RITTER]

I agree with Nightmare388, it sucks to lose money (I have done it) but it sure is great finding money! 8)

 

[78mali350]

keep the money. leave the id where it was

 

[jatguit]

I would make an effort to contact the person with the ID card and talk to them. Tell them you have their ID card and then they may also ask about any lost money.
Maybe you can probe a little bit but without revealing that you also have lost money. Let them tell you that.
If they lost ANY money, it will be hard to imagine that they won't ask you about it or be very emotional.
If they say they don't care about the ID card and are abrupt with you or don't want to bother talking with you, then I think you have the answer there.
(I think that is probably what the police would do anyway, but maybe not so discreetly.)

Then, turn it into the police, don't bother telling them about the ID card, and if it is NOT claimed in a certain amount of time, you should be able to claim it or most of it. But make sure you do whatever paperwork is needed to make that happen.
Not sure if that is what they do in your state but that is what they do around here. I have heard about it many times.

 

[KrisW]

Call the stupid cops. I hate them but this is what we pay them to do.

If no one claims it, you will get first dibs. Maybe the poor guy got mugged or hit by a car at the six lane road. The ambulance would take him away but they wouldn't spend time searching for his posessions.

Do the right thing; it's not like you LOST any money, and you'll get it legit if no one claims it.

I take looking at myself in the morning (and confession at church) very seriously...

 

[85montess]

I have to agree. It does suck to lose money. I am sure we have all done it at some point, but turning it in is the right thing to do. I strongly believe in karma and well screwing someone else over, will most likely mean you get screwed over in the long run. Like KrisW said, if no one claims it, you get first dibs. It is almost win win

 

[JESSE]

moral dilemma

this is easy for me!!!! i would call and ask if they lost money if they could tell me how much they lost i would give it to them!!!!

 

[Uncletruck]

I would call the number on the ID and ask if they lost anything else besides their ID. If they mention money and could tell you approximately how much and if that amount is around what you found, I would return the money. It's not really a police affair, not like you found a gun or drugs or anything illegal along with the money and ID, so you can handle it any way you decide. But if the money is theirs, best to be a good sam and return it. In turn they should offer you a reward.

-UT-

 

[Tony_SS]

I would call the number on the ID and ask if they lost anything else besides their ID. If they mention money and could tell you approximately how much and if that amount is around what you found, I would return the money. It's not really a police affair, not like you found a gun or drugs or anything illegal along with the money and ID, so you can handle it any way you decide. But if the money is theirs, best to be a good sam and return it. In turn they should offer you a reward.

-UT-

Agreed. And agreed on the cops have no reason to be involved.

But why is the title of the poll 'Keep the Cash'?