Don't drive on the grass is sometimes easier said than done

EDITOR:
There's a rumor that a fee will be charged to users of all state parks. My recent experience has convinced me it's a good idea.
En route to visit my wife in a Cleveland hospital with my faithful canine companion by my side, my dog gave indications that nature was calling.
I drove my van into the parking area of Mosquito Lake State Park, at the east end of the causeway on Route 88. The lot was blanketed by a 3-inch covering of fresh snow. A small indistinguishable jetty of grass extended out into the body of the asphalt lot. It was not marked by posts or curbs as were most of the other grassy areas. It was invisible to the naked eye.
My tires sank into the finely manicured sod of Mosquito Lake's parking lot. (A little sarcasm there). After a neighbor and an elderly gentleman tried in a van to push me out, a kind young man with a Jeep pulled me back onto the pavement.
My feeling of gratitude to these good Samaritans was suddenly overshadowed by my anger when I noticed a park ranger sitting in his cruiser, shaking his head and observing the rescue effort.
I thought, "This guy is a public servant paid by my tax dollars. He's watching an old man trying to push another old man out of the mud. He never got out of his car to help, to offer to call a tow truck, or to check my physical condition."
I walked my dog for about 15 minutes with the helpful ranger looking on. He finally got out of his car -- to give me a citation. When I explained that the grass was not visible, he replied, "It looks plain to me." It should. One needn't have a degree in navigational science to know the lay of the land when you drive on the same roads every day.
So the next time you use the primitive restrooms at Mosquito Lake and find your wallet is also being relieved, take solace in the fact that you're being protected by America's finest. Ol' Barney Fife is there with his badge and his spiffy lawman's uniform to protect you from us bad guys.
Let's all get behind the park fee program, gang! Then maybe the state can hire more Barnies and maybe they can afford posts to mark parking areas so stupid "senile citizens" like me won't have their sorry butts dragged into court so often.
AL KNILL
Mecca Township