Weirdos - Sticky Situation for Bubbble lady

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The Bubble Lady says it's all about creating beauty. The police who have asked her stop blowing bubbles near a busy intersection say it's simply a distraction.

Police gave Karen Turcotte a traffic ticket for throwing substances at a car after she refused to stop blowing the bubbles and motorists complained.

Ms. Turcotte maintains she has a constitutional right to blow bubbles anywhere she wants.

"My thing is, we have to deal with the grind and our own personal tragedies and heartache and everyday humdrum nonsense," explained Ms. Turcotte, 35.

"This is a way to kind of deviate from that and relieve the stress and to have fun and enjoy the beauty of life."

Ms. Turcotte, known around town as the Bubble Lady, said she blows her bubbles about eight hours a week, at bus stops, intersections, bridges, parks and even from the tops of buildings. She spends $3 a week on supplies.

She moved to Santa Cruz two years ago after bubble-blowing stints in Fayetteville, N.C., Austin, Texas, and East Lansing, Mich.

Many drivers honk, wave and smile to show their support while children chase after the bubbles, she says. But police say the suds could be dangerous.

"If it had resulted in a serious accident, it wouldn't be a funny little issue to laugh about," police Sgt. Brad Goodwin said.

Ms. Turcotte, who works as an alarm company security guard, says her bubble blowing hasn't even caused a fender-bender. She plans to fight the citation in court and intends to continue blowing bubbles even if she's found guilty.

"If it's against the law to do that," she said, "then I guess I will be committing an act of civil disobedience."