NYC man spends $7,500 to fight $115 ticket

[Mark]

NEW YORK - A retired New York City man said he spent $7,500 fighting a $115 parking ticket because he had "nothing else to do."

Former electrical hardware firm vice president Simon Belsky told the New York Post that he was erroneously ticketed two years ago.

The 63-year-old said the ticket cited his van for blocking a Brooklyn fire hydrant even though the only hydrant on the street was down the block.

The November 2006 fine ballooned from $115 to about $200 with penalties.

Belsky appeared in court last week and was due back on Feb. 2. He said if he won, he would file a civil suit against the city to recover the $7,500 he spent on legal work. He said if any compensation was awarded he'd donate it to educational programs.

[Aaron]

That's pretty awesome.

[Mark]

GO SIMON!!! Stick it to the man!

[Tsukiyumi]

Good on him. The government gets away with making people pay erroneous fines and fees all the time, because they know most people don't have any way to fight it.

[stitch626]

At first I was like but after reading it, I'm like .

[Tsukiyumi]

At first I was like but after reading it, I'm like .

Same here.

[Mark]

We should send him an invite to the forum

[Mikey]

Sounds like one of our cousins, Mark.

Good for him - I just wish that I had an extra $7500 and that much time, sometimes.

[Mark]

I should call Mom. For all I know, he just might be!

[Sionnach Glic]

Weird, but cool.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

At first I was like but after reading it, I'm like .

Yeah, same here. It sounded bad at first, but he was shafted the money. I hope he gets it back-with interest.

[Mark]

I'd sure love to see Mr. Everyday Joe beat the city!

[Nightshade]

The government's worst enemy.

A retired man with a lot of money and plenty of time to kill.