Mom is convicted--just for letting her daughter draw with chalk!

In probably the most ridiculous story I've heard all week, a Virginia mom earned a $325 fine, a ban from all city parks, and a sentence of 50 hours of community service--all because she let her daughter draw with chalk on the rocks in a park. Wow, talk about an unnecessary overreaction!

The 29-year-old mom, Susan Mortensen, was allowing her 4-year-old daughter to draw with chalk on rocks in Belle Isle State Park when Officer Stacy Rogers saw them. Rogers accused the toddler of "destroying" public property and blamed Mortensen for allowing her to do so.

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Unfortunately for the mom, the judge agreed with Officer Rogers yesterday. While supporters of Mortensen drew with their own chalk on the sidewalk outside of the courthouse, the judge sentenced her to 50 hours of community service, which she will spend painting about 200 boundary posts through the local park system.

Um, is it just me or are both Officer Rogers and that judge taking the situation WAY too seriously? I mean, it's just sidewalk chalk! It can be hosed off or will wash away in the rain. Had it been spray paint or something more permanent, I would understand their reaction, but in this case, I think all of the fuss is not at all warranted.

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The officer could have resolved the issue much more easily and sensibly simply by asking them to stop drawing instead of blowing the whole thing way out of proportion. Now that poor little girl can't even visit any of the city parks! I honestly shudder to think what would have happened if she had been holding a marker.

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Image via NBC 12