[Dixielandjazz] BMI

[billsharp]

Just exactly who are these people who show up and demand this money and 
level  the fines?  Do they actually have the legal authority to do so?  
  Are they from out of town, just sweeping through, threatening people 
with fines, hoping they'll pay up?

Just  last month we had a scandal where a person was showing up with 
"legitimate credentials" from the State Food Inspection Office, issuing 
fines to restaurant owners, threatening closure if they didn't pay 
substantial fines.  Many restaurants paid cash on the spot, often in 
the same $500+ price range as being levied by the  BMI "authorities".

Did the owners being fined check out the legitimacy of those assessing 
the fines, or is this just just another scam being perpetrated by 
perhaps the same persons?   I ask this because the other persons were 
not caught, and as soon as the scam was reported in the press, I began 
hearing about restaurant owners now getting this other set of fines - - 
--  ? ? ? ? ?

Is there a way to get a response from BMI, and ask them what the hell 
is going on?  Are they really doing this?