Is it legal to bypass the line where they mark your receipt when you exit a store?

[leaton]

Some stores force you to stand in line right after you have exited the checkout so they can double check you paid for it all. Lately with the economy downturn, these lines have become longer as they cut staff at some stores. If I just leave the store without a line down my receipt, is that legal? Additionally, if it's a membership deal, does that make a difference? i.e. Costco

[Takahashi]

Here in the United States stores do NOT have the right to search your bags. They would have to have a probable cause, a warrant, or for you to give consent to search your bags.

I personally find this at times to be judging consumers, and I refuse to show my bags on the way out of Fry's Electronics for example. They cannot stop you, for they are then withholding you without a cause, and if they restrain you, well then that would be assault.

You, however, are talking about Costco, which is different for you pay a fee to shop there. They may have bag checks written in part of the subscription contract.

With all this said, all stores still do of course hold the right to kick you off their property, just be aware of this.

It's a personal choice, and in some cases you may have to go through a huge hassle when you could have taken the few seconds to show your goods on the way out. Just be aware of that.

[ray sparro]

Only governmental authorities are bound by constitutional restrictions. Search warrants and probable cause laws are protections against police. If a store threw you down, dragged you into a back room and strip-searched you just because they felt like it and then found cocaine on you, they could call the police and the evidence can be used against you, because the police didn't violate your rights. Of course, you could then sue the store for assault, battery, kid-napping, etc. That being said, you do not have to wait on any line to be checked after making purchases. If they stop you with force, you would have a civil action; you could sue them. You could also file criminal charges against them. Probable cause is immaterial. However, they do have the right to protect their property, so if they believe you are absconding with it, they can use reasonable efforts to see that you don't. But they better be right!