Give me a T-I-C-K-E-T.

That wasn’t the cheer the Western Mustangs cheerleading squad was belting out Saturday, but that didn’t stop London police from slapping them with a $140 fine for performing a cheer on the road while en route to Western’s homecoming game.

The team was walking to TD Stadium before the Mustangs’ matchup against OUA rival Queen’s Gaels when a few members stopped on Broughdale Ave. to perform an impromptu cheer for hundreds of purple-clad fans packing the road.

Three male cheerleaders were tossing a female teammate into the air when police broke up the routine and dinged team captain Max Gow with a $140 ticket, said Mustangs cheerleading coach David Tracey.

“It’s homecoming. Are we not supposed to generate spirit? We’re the cheerleading team for goodness sake,” Tracey said.

The reason listed on the citation?

Causing a nuisance in the street by conducting a cheerleading performance, read the ticket.

A police spokesperson said she’d have to speak with the officer who issued the ticket before commenting.

A coach for more than three decades, Tracey has never heard of a anyone getting a ticket for performing a cheer.

“This is just stupidity on the part of whomever issued the ticket,” he said.

The 40-member cheerleading team stayed on the sidewalk while the four members performed the stunt near the curb, said Tracey, adding the street was already filled with revelers.

“If were truly blocking the street and tying up traffic and causing some kind of public disturbance then maybe I’d almost understand it, but not in this scenario.”

Tracey said he plans on fighting the ticket.

dale.carruthers@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/DaleatLFPress

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REACTION ON LFPRESS.COM

Dear UWO graduates, this is the reason you left London when you graduated. London police reacting this way serves as an embarrassment to the city. Thousands and thousands of grads returning to London will now spread this story of utter stupidity throughout their new hometowns.David Mathews

That's an excellent attitude! Say good riddance to your most educated and possibly most valuable members of your society. Jason

Boo hoo, if you choose to make excessive noise in residential neighbourhoods, pay the pauper. This is why the City of London has bylaw enforcement in place.Craig Fellner