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Woman Drops Sunflower Seed, Pays $185 Fine
WRTV ^ | November 4, 2004

Posted on 11/05/2004 5:07:35 PM PST by Samwise

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma City woman was still angry Thursday after she received a hefty fine for discarding a sunflower seed.

Woman Fined $185 For Tossing Sunflower Seed On Ground

Police cited Tricia Morgan for littering after she dropped the seed at an intersection about five months ago. The Oklahoma City Municipal Court upheld the fine after she challenged it.

Morgan told KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City that she's still angry about the citation. She said she couldn't believe that a single seed could cost her so much.

"I didn't drop a whole handful at all because I only had three or four in my hand," Morgan said. "I was eating them here and dropping them in the trash behind."

But an Oklahoma City police officer saw the situation differently. He said the seed went on the street.

According to Morgan, the officer wrote her a ticket for $185.

"I went to the city library to see exactly what the definition of litter is, and it's non-specific," she said. "It says anything that falls out of a vehicle is considered litter. I've been to many weddings where I have thrown birdseed at the bride, and I have never been ticketed there for littering."

Morgan said she still eats sunflower seeds and still drives the same stretch of road. However, she said she's still steaming at the fine.

"I thought it was all right to throw out apple cores to feed the rabbits and the squirrels, and I think it's pretty silly that I have been ticketed for this," she said.

Morgan said she couldn't afford the $558 that county officials said it would take to appeal the ticket. However, a municipal court administrator told KOCO-TV that the appeal fee should have been only twice the amount of the fine.

Oklahoma City police confirmed that a city law change several years ago made it a crime to throw a sunflower seed on the street.

"Officers are required to enforce all statutes and ordinances regardless of what they are ... because what to one person is very insignificant (is very significant) to someone else," Sgt. Charles Phillips said.

Phillips said Oklahoma City residents can be charged as much as $200 for a first-time littering offense. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: goodgrief; llitterbug; seedsofgrief; sunflower
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Good grief.
1 posted on 11/05/2004 5:07:36 PM PST by Samwise
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To: Samwise

Sheesh...guess I better keep those slippery banana skins in my car!


2 posted on 11/05/2004 5:09:30 PM PST by Woodstock (<------- is a BIRD)
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To: Woodstock

If it's biodegradable, it's not litter. IMHO


3 posted on 11/05/2004 5:11:01 PM PST by Samwise (This day does not belong to one man but to all. --Aragorn)
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To: Samwise

Apparently, they never heard of bio-degradable??


4 posted on 11/05/2004 5:11:03 PM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens.)
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To: Samwise

So if a leaf blows into the passenger compartment of your car while you're in OKC, and you throw it back out, prepare to be fined. How ludicrous is that?


5 posted on 11/05/2004 5:12:35 PM PST by brewcrew
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To: Samwise
But an Oklahoma City police officer saw the situation differently. He said the seed went on the street.

Any bets on the Officer's last name?

I'm going for "Obie"

Hey, just a cop doing his job!

LVM

6 posted on 11/05/2004 5:12:35 PM PST by LasVegasMac ("5 times ain't sh!t - My Daddy won here 10 times" DEjr)
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To: Samwise

Incredible!


7 posted on 11/05/2004 5:12:54 PM PST by MEG33 ( Congratulations President Bush!..Thank you God. Four More Years!)
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To: Samwise

It's the end of the world as we know it.


8 posted on 11/05/2004 5:12:57 PM PST by Glenn (The two keys to character: 1) Learn how to keep a secret. 2) ...)
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To: Samwise
It says anything that falls out of a vehicle is considered litter.
Even me????
9 posted on 11/05/2004 5:13:20 PM PST by Woodstock (<------- is a BIRD)
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To: Samwise

Totally agree. This is madness. I would have expected something like this in California, or Maryland, but not in OKC.


10 posted on 11/05/2004 5:13:59 PM PST by SoDak (Home of Senator John Thune)
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To: Samwise

I don't like litter any more than the next guy, but this?

This is highway robbery.

Regards,

PS: Besides, in 10 seconds some pigeon would have come by and eaten it. Now the poor pigeon will starve to death. Charge the cop with animal cruelty!


11 posted on 11/05/2004 5:14:11 PM PST by VermiciousKnid
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To: television is just wrong

Mother Nature is going to be in big trouble if they catch her.


12 posted on 11/05/2004 5:14:23 PM PST by Samwise (This day does not belong to one man but to all. --Aragorn)
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To: Samwise

13 posted on 11/05/2004 5:14:49 PM PST by rawhide
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To: Samwise

lol


14 posted on 11/05/2004 5:14:53 PM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens.)
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To: Samwise
It's time to disarm cops.

They don't have enough brains to be trusted with firearms.

15 posted on 11/05/2004 5:15:17 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: Samwise

apparently these "officers" have a lot of time on their hands, unnnnnnnnngggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!


16 posted on 11/05/2004 5:15:44 PM PST by rockabyebaby (What goes around, comes around!)
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To: Samwise

It's all biodegradable--if you have the right environmental conditions and sufficient time.


17 posted on 11/05/2004 5:16:53 PM PST by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington (Democrats rushed to nomination without a plan to win the election.)
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To: Samwise
because what to one person is very insignificant (is very significant) to someone else," Sgt. Charles Phillips said.

We seem to need a reality check for the officials and the laws.
Laws that don't provide any leeway for the arresting officer are bad laws. By reminding the offender of the law, and in this case, allowing the offender to right the wrong (pick up the seed please) justice is better served.
COMMON SENSE IS NEEDED HERE!
18 posted on 11/05/2004 5:17:00 PM PST by Edgerunner (The left ain't right. Hand me that launch pickle...)
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To: Samwise
Insanity.

An all-too-common affliction.

19 posted on 11/05/2004 5:17:09 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Samwise
this is the kind of stuff that needs to be headed off. like the kid who got arrested in florida for "impersonating a police officer" because he was wearing an "LAPD" t-shirt (yes, it really happened) a few years ago.
20 posted on 11/05/2004 5:17:40 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (if a man lives long enough, he gets to see the same thing over and over.)
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