decorate a tree go to jail. Original Article Feds: Don't decorate trees along the forest highways Arthur H. Rotstein Associated Press Nov. 22, 2005 12:00 AM Coconino National Forest officials are urging people to cool it with the Christmas decorations on trees lining forest highways in Red Rock country. Decorating trees along a scenic five-mile stretch of Arizona 179 between the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona has become popular in recent years, as well as on sections of Arizona 89A between Sedona and Cottonwood and along switchbacks at the north end of Oak Creek Canyon. "We're not trying to be Scrooge here, but it's to the point that so many decorations are put up that there are a couple of problems," said Karen Malis-Clark, a spokeswoman for the forest. The sometimes-tasteful, sometimes-offensive decorations - tinsel, paper plates sometimes bearing alien faces, CDs and other ornaments - typically start showing up over the Thanksgiving holiday. They frequently become windblown litter. The decorations also can distract, attract or disrupt wildlife and can pose safety issues for motorists and those hanging them. "Our strategy is to remove the decorations as quickly as possible so that it doesn't encourage more," said Connie Birkland, spokeswoman for the forest's Red Rock District. Between 50 and 80 trees were decorated last year, down from nearly 200 the year before, Birkland said, "but it has become a community issue," with area residents calling to ask why decorations are not allowed. Anyone caught who does not remove the decorations could face a federal misdemeanor fine for littering the forest of $150 to $5,000 or up to six months in jail. Often, volunteers or forest staff members are left to clean up because the decorators don't return to do so.