Teens cited for drawing with chalk

Two teen boys have been cited for using chalk to draw a whale and sea turtles on a street in Doylestown, Pa. Doylestown Police Chief James Donnelley defended the citation, describing the chalk drawings as “an attempt at vandalism,” even though everyone knows chalk washes off easily.  Both teens face fines to be determined by a district judge.  The citations could even turn into a misdemeanor, if the two boys are linked to any other chalk “vandalism.”

A local editorial criticized the “heavy-handed” chalk citations: “Really, the police should have more important things to do than this.”  Sadly, this citation silliness is not an isolated incident.  As Mother Jones reports, since 2007, almost 50 people have been cited or fined  for making chalk drawings.