Section 516. Improper use of credit cards or debit cards; defense of lawful detention  


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  • In any action for false arrest, false imprisonment,  unlawful
      detention,  defamation  of  character, assault, trespass, or invasion of
      civil rights, brought by any person by reason of having been detained on
      or in the immediate vicinity of the premises  of  a  seller,  lender  or
      issuer,  for  the  purpose  of  investigation  or  questioning as to the
      ownership, possession, validity or use of a credit card or  debit  card,
      it  shall  be a defense to such action that the person was detained in a
      reasonable manner and for not more than a reasonable time to permit such
      investigation or questioning by a peace officer, acting pursuant to  his
      special  duties, or a police officer, or by a person acting on behalf of
      or by such seller, lender or issuer,  and  that  such  officer,  person,
      seller,  lender  or  issuer  had  reasonable grounds to believe that the
      person so detained was using or attempting to use  a  stolen  or  forged
      credit  card  or debit card or was making or attempting to make unlawful
      use of a credit card or debit card. As used in this section, "reasonable
      grounds" shall include, but not be limited to, knowledge that the credit
      card or debit card has been, or has been reported to be,  lost,  stolen,
      revoked,  cancelled, or forged and knowledge that the person had used or
      attempted to use the credit card or debit  card  to  purchase  or  lease
      property  or  services  or  to  obtain a cash advance, and a "reasonable
      time" shall mean the time necessary to permit  the  person  detained  to
      make  a  statement  or  to  refuse  to  make  a  statement, and the time
      necessary to examine employees and records of the seller, lender, issuer
      or holder relative to whether improper use was being made of the card.