This story does not surprise me!
I was born in Milwaukee many many years ago. When I was a youngster I obtained a Red Ryder by selling seed packs through a comic book ad. Had to sell allot of packs but I managed. The Seed Company sent me the Red Ryder. They were not legal in the city limits but somehow it got through the mail. I knew enough not to take it outside and only shot it in the basement. I did have a friend who lived outside the city and did get to shoot it outside one day only. Do you know some busy body neighbor reported me for shooting in the basement and the police showed up and took it away from me.
As a boy I delivered the Milwaukee Journal and the Sentinel. Journal being the evening paper and Sentinel being the morning paper. Now they are one.
Back then the city required a license plate for bicycles, they were fifty cents a year and we had to follow all vehicle laws while riding, which meant no riding on sidewalks. They did give tickets for that. Too many tickets and that meant a safety class which I did have to attend ,,, I admit..... Frank