Ticket for feeding pigeons

I live in Los Angeles and take light rail often. Last week I was at Union station where a metro cop spotted me feeding pigeons and he wrote a citation for littering. I said there was no signage or anything that said not to feed the birds, and he told me to tell that to the judge when I go to court. The maximum fine is $250---I'm hoping that if I plead ignorance I will get off lightly.

I feel bad about getting caught because this means I can't go back to the metro station to feed the pigeons. I have gotten attached to the pigeons there, and there's this one special red-breasted pigeon that hovers over my hand to peck seeds. I will be sad not to feed her again.

I'm so sorry this happened to you!
Life would be a lot better if the police's priority was to enforce the laws that protect people and animals, rather than persecute those who are doing no wrong.

Check out this thread. There are lots of contacts there, and some work pro bono. Even if you don't need a lawyer, you could still get some helpful information.

http://www.pigeonangels.com/t831-animal-rights-lawyers#7883

Teresa wrote:

Life would be a lot better if the police's priority was to enforce the laws that protect people and animals, rather than persecute those who are doing no wrong.

Teresa--Thanks for your reply and for the links to the legal help. As for the metro cop, he found an easy ticket to write. I still don't feel its littering because I did not leave a mess for anyone clean up. It galls me that I'm getting a ticket for feeding pigeons while whoever keeps peeing in the elevator never gets caught by the metro cops, and it always stinks in there!

I hear ya, I've heard people complain about the mess that pigeons cause while their dogs did their business on the sidewalk and it didn't get picked up... Pigeons and pigeon lovers are often seen as soft targets by people with no conscience.