The other day I wrote about out-of-control government prosecuting a woman for doing something technically criminal -- buying cold medicine for two different family members at two different stores on two different days within the same week.

But this one is even worse -- the criminalization of neighbors helping neighbors.

A West Michigan woman says the state is threatening her with fines and possibly jail time for babysitting her neighbors' children.

Lisa Snyder of Middleville says her neighborhood school bus stop is right in front of her home. It arrives after her neighbors need to be at work, so she watches three of their children for 15-40 minutes until the bus comes.

The Department of Human Services received a complaint that Snyder was operating an illegal child care home. DHS contacted Snyder and told her to get licensed, stop watching her neighbors' kids, or face the consequences.

"It's ridiculous." says Snyder. "We are friends helping friends!" She added that she accepts no money for babysitting.

Mindy Rose, who leaves her 5-year-old with Snyder, agrees. "She's a friend... I trust her."

Good grief! This is the sort of stuff we grew up with when I was a kid. My house was where the kids next door came after school until their mom, a nurse, got off at 4:00. Miss Carmen down the street watched some of us when our parents had doctors appointments and were running late. That sort of stuff isn't day care -- it is normal human interaction.

My diagnosis? Too many laws caused by too much government.

Posted by: Greg at 10:22 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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