BERLIN, Vt. -
Stephen Sawyer and his friends found out the hard way Thursday that Montpelier Police aren't letting anyone have access to the Berlin pond.
The group had come there to do some fishing.
"I had a broken hook. I was putting on my hook," said Sawyer.
But then Sawyer says the only thing he caught was the attention of the police.
"Then I see him and I came up the road to see what we going on," said Sawyer.
On Wednesday city council asked police to increase enforcement of people trespassing on city property.
The majority of which surrounds the Berlin pond.
This move comes as reaction to a Vermont Supreme Court ruling earlier this month.
The court ruled that even though Montpelier uses the pond as its water supply, the city could not keep people out.
Now police hope three months in jail or a $500 dollar fine will do the trick.
"This will be from this point forward until different regulatory changes potentially may occur, this will be a consistent effort to protect our land," said Montpelier Police Chief Anthony Facos.
Police say their goal is not to come out and write everybody a ticket but they say if they catch you on the property more than once, you can expect it.
Sawyer got the first warning handed out and he has no intention of getting the first ticket.
"I wouldn't do it. You'll get written up," said Sawyer.
A message police say they hope gets around to everyone before Memorial Day Weekend comes.
