US city cracks down on ‘big problem’

Selma — The west Alabama city of Selma is planning a crackdown on what one councilman says is a big problem: Horse droppings.

The City Council passed a law three years ago requiring that horses wear diapers when on city streets, but Councilman Michael Johnson says riders aren’t following the law.

Johnson says he doesn’t mind people riding horses in the city of 20,000. But he’s bothered by the smell and other sanitary problems created by horses on city streets.

The Selma-Times Journal quoted Police Chief John Brock as saying officers will be stricter enforcing the diaper law. He says the department will issue warnings for a first offense and citations for repeat offenders.

There could be plenty of tickets: Johnson said he has seen just one diaper-wearing horse in town.