I think the punishment applies, though we may argue it is a bit too harsh.
I'm thinking of all the American moms who allow their children to play with the stuff that is for sale in stores, and don't even pick up after them when they are finished. They not even tell their little ones not to behave like that. Who educated these moms, anyway?
I suspect it was Dr. Spock.

lose millions of dollars in illegal broking - nobody cares and nothing is done for compensation
let a child live out its childhood - mother gets sentenced to 50 hours of community service
seriously, wake up sheeple!!!

we all grew up using sidewalk chalk.this is getting ridiculous.the chalk wears off after a few days,its not like she used spray paint.people need to learn the difference between offensive graffiti and a childs imagination. a damn shame how the law for even children is so strict yet the government is constantly letting big corporations and themselves slide with actual crimes.

. . . are getting just a -little- bit anal.

It's about time parents took responsibilty for their childrens actions! It is not a childs right to deface public property just because they are 4 years old. Parents need to be responsible for their children and pick up after them, or in this case train them or clean up after them.
There will be opposing opinions related to the punishment. How about adults behaving like adults by training manners and good behavior to the kids. Be responsible and punishment will become obsolete.
If you want your kids to deface any surface they chose with chalk, bring your bucket and scrub brush with you.

There is no way anyone who has an ounce of spirit left coming through their human life that would agree this women or child should be chastised in anyway for a 4 year old doing chalk drawings on a sidewalk.

There is nothing defacing about it.

Defacing you say it is, and the mother irresponsible?!..well I'll tell what if you think that...

Something happened to you and or a series of things happened to you when you were the same age as this little girl.

And it continued as your "grew up" with things like the school system, career training, messages from TV and the movies, the media and so on into adulthood.

Bit by bit your spirit was chiseled away by "don't do this" and " do that"...too many of them..so much so you can no longer truly recognize when to be wise and "responsible" and when to allow it to "hang loose" a bit.

Yes so much social indoctrination has been force upon you, that you think you are living a "normal" life.

Your so called normal life and the rest of how we live as a whole is actually very perverted, but you can't see it.

I suggest you be responsible and quit your job or whatever it is that is continuing your anal retentiveness..and get in touch with your spirit with some consistency ...because you are being very irresponsible to your fellow human beings and a burden to them by your attitudes that are continuing to support this massive system that is suppressing everyone; Including yourself. Please, wake up! Enough!

of in a long time to, to my mind what this article is telling is me that any form of creativity in a child should be supressed. If the parents cannot control this creativity then they will be punished (I guess we havn't reached the point YET when a 4 year old can be called a cimininal). One could consider her a budding street artist.

see link

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A good rainfall and the evidence would be washed away.

rain does wonders on getting rid of chalk.