"Ruined our trip": Mum shell-shocked by $130k fine
A mother has been slapped with a hefty fine after her children were caught in a seemingly innocent act while on a beach holiday.
Charlotte Russ took her five kids on a trip to Pismo Beach in California, where her children started enthusiastically collecting what they thought were ordinary seashells.
"My kids they thought they were collecting seashells, but they were actually collecting clams, 72 to be exact," Russ told local news outlet ABC 7.
Clamming is highly regulated in California, meaning if you don't have a fishing license, you cannot catch the small sea creatures.
She received a citation right there on the beach and was later notified she has to pay close to $89,000, or $133,000 AUD, for her kids' seemingly innocent treasure hunt.
"It made me really sad and depressed, and it kind of ruined our trip," said Russ.
Department of Fish and Wildlife's Lieutenant Matthew Gil defended the fine, saying there are rules in place for a reason.
"The reason we got it we have these regulations is because we have to let them get to 4 and a half inches so they can spawn so they can have they can have offspring every year, and they have juvenile clams," said Lt. Gil.
Russ said her kids have learned their lesson, saying, "They know now at the beach don't touch anything, but they know now what a clam is, compared to what a seashell is now, I've had to explain that to them."
The mother was able to plead her case with a San Luis Obispo County Judge, who reduced her fine to $500 dollars, and after she "won" her case, Russ got a shellfish tattoo to commemorate the incident.
"It was definitely one expensive trip to Pismo, unforgettable," said Russ.
Image credits: ABC 7