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Don't pick dandelions in Chicago!

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  • Don't pick dandelions in Chicago!

    Can we please use some common sense before it is too late? Or is the need for revenue via fines so great that the absurd has become normal?

    Elderly Man Fined For Picking Dandelions | LawInfo Blog


    A 75-year-old Chicago man named John Taris was issued a $75 ticket by a Cook County Forest Preserve Cop when he was caught picking dandelions from an area of the LaBagh Woods. He had apparently volunteered to go pick up the dandelions for him and his wife when their food supply had run low. Mr. Taros and his wife live on a fixed income and according to ABA Journal, Taris said, “the fine for foraging in a Cook County Forest Preserve will eat up half of his bank account.”
    Administrative Hearing to Challenge the $75 Foraging Ticket

    Taris was hoping to get his ticket thrown out. However, after the administrative hearing, Taris was told that he would not only have to pay the $75 fine, but he would also have to pay an additional $200 in court costs.

    According to Karen Vaughan, spokeswoman for the Cook County Forest Preserve District, “foraging is prohibited.” Moreover, Karen Vaughan believes foraging can “have negative impacts on the natural plant and animal communities.”

    If you’re ever in Chicago, stay away from the dandelions! 3 pounds of dandelions may cost you $75!

  • #2
    H'mmm I see a potential business opportunity.... as a weed dealer.
    If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.

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    • #3
      Hell, I'd PAY him to take all the dandelions in my yard.
      Removing a single turd from the cesspool doesn't make any difference.

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      • #4
        Seriously, there is a major problem in a society that fined a destitute elderly man for picking a weed to feed himself and his elderly wife.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by zraver View Post
          Seriously, there is a major problem in a society that fined a destitute elderly man for picking a weed to feed himself and his elderly wife.
          So where will you draw the line on enforcement?

          The law says no picking of plants in a forest preserve. He picked the plants and suffered the consequences.

          If you read the blog entry, they waived the court cost.

          In Florida he would have received a misdemeanor charge and a $1,000 fine

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
            So where will you draw the line on enforcement?
            Basic sustenance is a good place to draw a line.

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            • #7
              reading the links on the blog, it wasn't like they were starving. He wanted some Horta to go with the egg and hot dogs.

              So he drives to the park and picks 3 pounds worth of the plans. Not just enough for a meal. 3 pounds is a lot of dandelion greens.

              And in the original story he doesn't mention not having food.

              Horta Picker Taris Faces Court | USA.GreekReporter.com

              If he needed food he could have drove to a food bank. Free and legal

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              • #8
                Still they were weeds... I mean in Europe it was, "thou shall not eat of the kings deer". In the US it is, thou shall not eat of the kings grass clippings".

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                • #9
                  Weeds?

                  From Wiki: The dandelion plant is a beneficial weed, with a wide range of uses, and is even a good companion plant for gardening. Its taproot will bring up nutrients for shallower-rooting plants, and add minerals and nitrogen to soil. It is also known to attract pollinating insects and release ethylene gas which helps fruit to ripen.[28] Taraxacum seeds are an important food source for certain birds.

                  Seems like just the plant that you want to keep in a forest preserve.

                  Maybe he needs to grow them in his yard if he likes to eat them so much. They are to bitter tasting for me. Like perilla. The wife eats both

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                  • #10
                    Probably wanted to make an example of the poor old man. There was a douche bringing huge crowd of tourists to Central Park, NYC on "foraging" tours and park management soon begin complaining of being picked clean. 75 sounds pretty excessive for a destitute couple.
                    All those who are merciful with the cruel will come to be cruel to the merciful.
                    -Talmud Kohelet Rabbah, 7:16.

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                    • #11
                      It's not all that difficult to comprehend... Cook County Forest Preserve
                      sigpic

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Minskaya View Post
                        It's not all that difficult to comprehend... Cook County Forest Preserve
                        The problem is that its' excessive and is found all over.
                        He was picking a weed that regrows in a week.

                        My feeling is he was picked on because he is weak and won't be able to defend himself. While the guy maybe guilty court costs of 200 bucks if he wasn't are absurd... It seems you have to pay at every junction weather you did something or not if the "officials" fine/tax/rob you by official decree. I don't think he should pay it he has nothing they can't take nothing.

                        Contesting it costing $200 bucks is the absurd part in my view. If you think about it...

                        What if he was picking mushrooms or berries? theoretically he didn't kill the plant just took the fruit or in the case of mushrooms fungi.

                        P.S. if the preserve is public land and belongs to all why can't he pick/forage in there? theoretically it belongs to all the citizens him included and if it belongs to the gov't and not him why does his tax dollars go to pay the person handing out tickets? wouldn't it be cheaper to fire that person and spend more money on replanting it periodically.
                        Last edited by cyppok; 20 Jul 13,, 18:49.
                        Originally from Sochi, Russia.

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                        • #13
                          In Arkansas I don't think a city or county could pass such a law since the public lands are owned by the state.

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                          • #14
                            The roots make very nice chicory tasting coffee , dry them out in the oven , crush and pour boiling water on , job done , tip , try to get ones dogs aint pissed on ;)

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by zraver View Post
                              In Arkansas I don't think a city or county could pass such a law since the public lands are owned by the state.
                              It is unlawful to pick flowers or remove plants from Arkansas State parks. At least Mount Magazine, according to their trail brochure. Its one of the first things mentioned

                              http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5211508.pdf

                              Trails
                              Trail Regulations
                              To protect the environment and for safety on Arkansas trails it is unlawful to:
                              •Possess alcoholic beverages on trails
                              •Carry glass containers on trails
                              •Litter
                              •Camp overnight on trails within the state park
                              •Deface natural or cultural features
                              •Allow pets off leash
                              •Ride bikes on trails other than Will Apple's Road Trail and Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail
                              •Ride horses or ATVs on trails other than Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail
                              •Harass, hunt, or kill wildlife in the state park
                              Pick flowers or remove plants

                              VIOLATORS ARE SUBJECT TO BEING FINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

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