Jaywalking fowl hatches a ticket

Tue., May 10, 2005

Associated Press

RIDGECREST, Calif. – Linc and Helena Moore may have learned the answer to that age-old question: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because the chicken doesn’t know jaywalking is illegal.

Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy J. Nicholson does know. The deputy issued a ticket March 26 because one of the couple’s chickens allegedly impeded traffic in Johannesburg, a rural town some 220 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

The Moores were in Superior Court on Friday to plead not guilty. A trial was scheduled for May 16.

Nicholson has declined to discuss the matter, but sheriff’s Sgt. Francis Moore said wandering chickens have been a problem in the community of 50 residents. Officials didn’t believe issuing the couple a warning would resolve it.

The Moores say they were cited because they were among residents who complained that deputies haven’t done enough to control off-road vehicle riders who create dust and noise.

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Jaywalking fowl hatches a ticket

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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