Couple Jailed for Not Removing Christmas Lights

"What are you in for?" was the question posed to Angelica Flores in the Arizona jail. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth. "It was Christmas lights." According to The Arizona Republic, officials from Peoria, Ariz. said that Flores and her husband, Tony, violated a code that stipulated - to maintain the integrity of the neighborhoods - all Christmas decorations must be removed from homes within 19 days of Dec. 25.

The news report said the Flores couple had not removed their Christmas lights by last April because Tony had sustained a work injury, and Angelica was afraid to climb a ladder. They advised that they had been to court twice, and disregarded the third court date "after receiving a letter stating the case had been dismissed." When they subsequently moved to Glendale, the whole issue was dead, they thought.

So Angelica was very stunned a few days ago when three police officers arrived at their home, and handcuffed them. "They treated us like we (had) killed someone," Angelica told the Arizona Republic.