Woman who got $50 dog-park ticket for Facebook post says cops were barking up the wrong tree
An Illinois woman who expressed sympathy on Facebook for dogs afflicted with kennel cough got an unsympathetic response last week from forest preserve police—a $50 ticket based on her post.
Bolingbrook resident Christine Adamski, 25, has a pet-sitting company and a dog named Ginger. She used to visit the Whalon Park Dog Park in Will County, and commented on its Facebook page after hearing concerns that some dogs using the park had kennel cough. The Chicago Tribune has the story.
“I was feeling bad that I haven’t bought a pass and been bringing Ginger there but I’m pretty glad I haven’t,” Adamski wrote. “So not going to worry about it until later. I hope all the doggies get better soon.”
Adamski received a $50 citation in the mail for “knowingly enter[ing] a dog park without a valid 2014 permit,” the Tribune says. A letter explained the ticket and included a copy of the Facebook comments “admitting her guilt.” So Adamski wrote about it on the dog park page, saying the Will County Forest Preserve District Police were “dead wrong”—she hasn’t used the dog park since 2013.
The ticket has been rescinded. Forest Preserve District executive director Marcy DeMauro told the Tribune that the district doesn’t scour social media for law breakers, and if there is a tip, the district would have to verify the information before issuing a ticket.
