Sprinklers...

[Associated Press Report]

MENDHAM TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - Whitney Houston was issued a summons for violating New Jersey's water-use restrictions after police found sprinklers running at her estate.

``Nobody gets special treatment here,'' police Lt. Jim Hughes told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Tuesday's editions.

Hughes said an officer went to the home Monday after police received a complaint that the sprinkler system was on at night. The sprinklers were running and puddles had formed in the curbs at the property the pop star shares with her husband, singer Bobby Brown, police said.

State officials imposed water-use restrictions last month because of ongoing drought conditions. Residents are banned from watering lawns or washing cars.

Hughes said the officer told a security guard the sprinklers had to be shut off, but the guard didn't know how to do it and had to call the landscaper.

A spokeswoman said Houston and Brown weren't home when the sprinklers were on. Nancy Seltzer said the couple hasn't been at the 10-acre estate for some time because Houston has been working on her next album, ``Just Whitney.''

``A judge will understand that someone taking care of the property obviously made a mistake,'' Seltzer said. ``Whitney is very conscious about the environment and she will care if in fact this (law) was breached.''

Police departments in most of the state have issued warnings to people who violate the water-use ban, but Mendham Township officers have given tickets to 15 people. Violators can face fines of up to $1,000.

NEWSFILE: 10 SEPTEMBER 2002