Marshmallow error lands woman in shackles

[PinkTiger]

From CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/18/marshmallows.ap/index.html

SNIP:

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- A teacher's aide who forgot to put away her marshmallows and hot chocolate at Yellowstone National Park last year was taken from her cruise ship cabin in handcuffs and hauled before a judge, accused of failing to pay the year-old fine.

Hope Clarke, 32, crying and in leg shackles, told the judge Friday she was rousted at 6:30 a.m. by federal agents after the ship returned to Miami from Mexico. She insisted that she had paid the $50 fine before she left Yellowstone, which has strict rules about food storage to prevent wildlife from eating human food.

Customs agents meet all cruise ships arriving from foreign ports and run random checks of passenger lists, and a warrant claiming Clarke had not paid the fine was found in the federal law enforcement database.
End of snip --

So, is this how we are protecting the nation's borders? Arresting teacher's aides who have a $50 fine outstanding for leaving marshmallows and chocolate outside at Yellowstone? I realize the "crime" is serious, but hardly a security risk.

Gee - I feel much safer.