Woman cleared in poop scooping trial

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ASPEN, Colo., June 5 (UPI) -- A Colorado judge cleared a woman of a dog poop scooping violation, saying the rules she was cited under are unclear.

Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely cleared Marion Lansburgh of Aspen Friday in the 30-minute trial on a citation for not picking up her dog's droppings March 13 near the bottom of Smuggler Mountain Road, The Aspen (Colo.) Times reported Tuesday.

Fernandez-Ely said the rules governing such citations are unclear, as Lansburgh was cited for the offense despite her husband picking up the poop when it was shown to him by John Armstrong, Pitkin County open space and trails ranger.

"There's the issue that, how could you violate [the rules0 if you picked it up?" the judge said.

She said the rules, which carry a $100 fine for offenses, do not state a specific time frame for how quickly the droppings must be removed.

"Because of the vagueness of the statute, and Mrs. Lansburgh's husband picked it up, I'm going to find [her] not guilty," Fernandez-Ely said.