Can you get arrested for a stop payment at a grocery store?

Answer 1

This depends on your state. In most states it is illegal to offer a dishonored or bad check. Additionally in most cases the amount of the bad check would determine whether or not the offense is a misdemeanor or a felony. In practice, most businesses attempt to collect a bad check fee in addition to the amount on the check before turning a check over to the authorities. In some cases, businesses don't even bother to turn the check in but instead have a collection agency try to collect the debt. If a grocery store is threatening to get you arrested, I would take them seriously and pay the amount of the check and the late fees that were imposed. If you have some sort of dispute over an amount paid, you would need to file your own case against them in small claims court after making good on the check.

Answer 2

if you purchased the goods with the intent to subsequently stop payment on the check it is a crime based on this simple fact pattern.