Urine trouble, Liberty Bell ranger advises tourist

[Kate]

What would YOU have done in this situation? Would have said something but not issue a citation to the mother? Would you have done the same thing as the U.S. Park Service policeman? Or would you have ignored the whole issue altogether?

This article can be found at the Philadelphia Daily News.

She's fined $75 after son pees in flower bed

By SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM

It's a hard job being a U.S. Park Service policeman working the Liberty Bell beat.

Authorities have to watch out for terrorists and purse-snatchers alike. And yesterday there was a new enemy - a 3-year-old European boy with a weak bladder.

A U.S. park ranger confronted Barbara Wells - an American now living with her husband in the Czech Republic - yesterday around 5 p.m. as she watched her child urinate near a wall close to a flower bed.

"He tells me he has to go pee-pee," Wells said, recalling her son's struggle to hold it in after an afternoon of sightseeing. "I was afraid he would wet his pants."

Then the ranger walked up to Wells, who is in her 40s, demanding to know the tot's name. She identified her son, and the ranger gave her a $75 ticket for "disposing of human waste [urinating] in a developed area." The policeman identified himself on Wells' citation as Park Ranger Saperstein.

The U.S. Park Service police could not be reached for comment.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Cole, 62, watched the ranger scold Wells from his ninth-floor office window and said he thought the officer had blown things out of proportion.

"It was beyond the pale," said Cole, who rushed downstairs to console Wells after watching her ordeal. "People in public service should be using better judgment."

Cole said that one of his colleagues had offered to pay the $75 fine but that Wells had wanted to take care of it herself.

Yesterday was already a bad day for Wells. She was rushing to Center City from the Jersey Shore, trying to reach the Liberty Bell before it closed. Her son was crabby after his afternoon nap, and once his bladder began to expand, she said, the whining got more intense.

She tried to go back inside the Liberty Bell Center, but the no-re-entry sign stopped her. The only other outlet, she said, was the wall.

"I was trying to be discreet," Wells said. " I am not stupid."

Wells said she hopes to revisit Philadelphia before her family's summer vacation in the States ends. And one run-in with a park ranger won't stop her.

"We want to spend more time here," said Wells, who will visit relatives in Lancaster County next. "This is my country."

[acreature]

Again, another not enforcing the Spirit of the law.

[148]

under normal circumstances i would simply explain to the women that this behavior is not allowded, and that she needs to be the parent and think ahead.. does anyone else remember " ok, were getting ready to leave, does anyone have to go to the bathroom? im not stopping once we are on the road" as said by my father on numerous occasions. that being said, mom would just get a warning, unless. she got lippy then should would get the ticket. as far as the idiot lawyer from his 9th floor window??? pppaallleeaassee.. if he could read lips and see there faces from 9 floors up he needs to get a new job using his super human like visions.

[acreature]

But, but, but, but....... He's a lawyer! He knows exactley what you have or ever will do! :D

[MOCOP]

You forget he's an attorney. Highly educated and able to do things we mere mortals can't.Especially if he smells money. :D

[acreature]

Oh Shizzam, MY BADD :D

[MOCOP]

And as long as we stand in awe of him the mighty attorney will never hurt us :D

[Norm357]

That is a stupid Park Ranger. The little boy should have pissed on his foot.

[acreature]

OMFG. Now, I do not condone urinating on any LEO, but damn, I woulda paid to see that!

[Babysmamadrama]

OMFG. Now, I do not condone urinating on any LEO, but damn, I woulda paid to see that!

Yeah, I could see that Ranger bragging to other coppers at the bar:

"I once hit a guy so hard, I knocked him right out his flip flops......course he was only three years old." :D

[Tankus]

can you just see it..guys goes back to his office.."yeah fellas i got this huge bust today, i tell ya the perp was a real menace. But i fixed him...wrote up that 3year old for peeing in the garden. That will sure learn him!"

how pathetic......

[Babysmamadrama]

Yeah, he kicked me in the shin and called me a poopie head, so I got him for resisting, assault on a LEO and disorderly conduct. :D

[dwf]

I almost feel guilty for laughing at that.

I'm wondering what the rest of the story is?

[LidaRose]

under normal circumstances i would simply explain to the women that this behavior is not allowded, and that she needs to be the parent and think ahead.. does anyone else remember " ok, were getting ready to leave, does anyone have to go to the bathroom? im not stopping once we are on the road" as said by my father on numerous occasions. that being said, mom would just get a warning, unless. she got lippy then should would get the ticket. as far as the idiot lawyer from his 9th floor window??? pppaallleeaassee.. if he could read lips and see there faces from 9 floors up he needs to get a new job using his super human like visions.

Tony...I couldn't agree more. I'd get the kid & mom out of there asap & tell them never to do that again. I don't think a ticket was called for, but I wasn't there either.

I think the stupid jerk of an attorney should have paid the fine for butting into ppl's business.

LR