DEPUTIES SAY IT WITH ROSE GRABS.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Darvish Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Outdoor flower vendors looking to make some money from last-minute shoppers on Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. were in the red Monday when sheriff's deputies confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. bouquets from sellers who could not produce vending permits. Deputy William Cordero of the Santa Clarita sheriff's station estimated that he confiscated more than 1,000 red, white and pink roses Monday from vendors hawking flowers at busy intersections and near freeway off-ramps. ``I started at 8 this morning, and I made my first (confiscation confiscation In law, the act of seizing property without compensation and submitting it to the public treasury. Illegal items such as narcotics or firearms, or profits from the sale of illegal items, may be confiscated by the police. Additionally, government action (e.g. ) at about 9:30,'' Cordero said Monday afternoon after transferring another load of roses from his patrol car to an evidence locker. Calls and complaints about unlicensed vendors started coming into the sheriff's station Monday morning from legitimate flower shops. The callers said unlicensed vendors were cutting into the profits of taxpaying businesses on one of the biggest days of the year in the flower industry. Cordero said he made repeated stops at the Via Princessa off-ramp of the Antelope Valley Freeway The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. It is signed as California State Highway 14 along its length. It connects Greater Los Angeles to the rapidly developing Antelope Valley. , as well as at the Valencia Boulevard-Bouquet Canyon Road intersection and the Whites Canyon Road-Soledad Canyon Road intersection. ``I think a lot of the vendors are (working together) because the minute I take the flowers, they're on the cell phone,'' Cordero said. ``They would be very cordial cordial: see liqueur. , but then I'd come back and they're selling again. There must have been a truck that would replenish re·plen·ish v. re·plen·ished, re·plen·ish·ing, re·plen·ish·es v.tr. 1. To fill or make complete again; add a new stock or supply to: replenish the larder. 2. the flowers.'' None of the vendors was arrested, Cordero said, because of the amount of time and personnel needed to process the violators. They were told they could pick up their confiscated property - if they still wanted the flowers - at the sheriff's station Monday night or today. With hundreds of fresh, long-stemmed roses loaded into it, Cordero's patrol car looked like a traveling flower shop. But he says he felt no temptation to pick a few for his wife before he logged in the stems as evidence. There was a force even stronger than a law enforcement oath. ``I already know not to bring my wife flowers this year for Valentine's Day,'' Cordero said. ``She knows what I've been doing all day, and she told me, Don't even think about it.'' Amy Raisin Darvish, (661) 257-5254 amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Sheriff's Deputy William Cordero loads dozens of roses into his patrol car Monday - but none for his wife. The flowers were seized from unlicensed street vendors. (2) A street vendor peddles flowers Monday. Deputies seized bouquets from area vendors who could not show licenses. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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