Michigan Putting People In Jail for Not Paying Dog License Fees

They are now apparently putting Michigan residents in jail for late dog license fees.

According to the Associated Press, a woman was recently arrested by Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s deputies, and then given the criminal treatment after she failed to get her money in on time to renew the license for her four-legged friend.

"They frisked me and put me in this intake cell with all these inmates in orange jumpsuits," Becky Rehr told A.P. "I was pretty nervous."

As nationally syndicated columnist Jacob Sullum pointed out, Rehr could have been easily subjected to a strip search, which the Supreme Court has ruled to be constitutional regardless of how petty the offense.

Failure to pay the renewal fee for a dog license in some parts of Michigan is a misdemeanor offense – punishable with a fine of $100 and up to 90 days in jail.

County officials said they are not interested in taking the case to court because, after all, it’s just a $10 license.”

Rehr, who had to appear in court earlier this week, says she fully intends to take care of the situation.