Nicholas Benson was caught using the Cedar Lake Trail and it cost him. He was riding his bike with a friend when he says they rolled up on a Three Rivers Park police officer at the Woodale crossing of the trail.

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"He was talking to some lady before us I guess giving a warning. And we were about to bike past but he stopped us and decided to give us a citation," he said.

A spokesperson for the Three Rivers Park District said they started educational efforts May 2. It's not their policy to hand out tickets but since people have been ignoring the signs, they cited four people Monday after being warned not to go into the construction zones.

"We do not want people to be on these trails while that work is going on. We have detours set up. We urge people to use those detours or find alternate routes or to remember that it's technically trespassing to go on these trails," project spokesman Trevor Roy said.

Benson said a $130 ticket doesn't fit the crime.

"Personally I don't think so," he said.