ARVADA, Colo. — An Arvada woman said she’s facing a $500 fine from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol after she saved a free apple she received from an airline on her way home from Paris.
Crystal Tadlock said toward the end of her flight, attendants passed out apples in plastic bags.
She wasn’t hungry at the time so she threw the snack in her bag and planned to eat it during the second leg of her trip back to Denver.
Tadlock said when she went through customs, her bag was randomly searched.
She said the customs agent pulled out the apple in the plastic bag with Delta’s logo on it.
Tadlock said she had just received the snack from the airline and asked if she could throw it out or eat it. She said the agent said no, and handed her a $500 fine instead.
“He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, ‘Yeah.’ I didn’t really get why he was asking that question, and then he said ‘It’s about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'” Tadlock said.
Tadlock said she’s frustrated that an innocent mistake could amount to a large fine and the loss of her Global Entry Status.
Tadlock said Delta shouldn’t have passed out apples to customers or at least reminded passengers not to take the fruit off the plane.
She also said she’s frustrated that customs would ticket her when the agent clearly saw the snack came from an airline.
“It’s really unfortunate someone has to go through that and be treated like a criminal over a piece of fruit,” Tadlock said.
“We encourage our customers to follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection protocols,” a Delta spokesman said.
“Privacy policy prohibits CBP from discussing the details of any individuals specific inspection, however all agriculture items must be declared,” U.S. Customs and Border Control said in a statement.
Tadlock can pay the $500 or fight the charge in court. She said she plans to fight the ticket in front of a judge.
Arvada woman trying to stomach $500 fine for free airline snack, files complaint with customs
The idiots, morons and imbeciles have us surrounded!
Every citation no matter how small should be fought in court
Bog this system down so hard that it costs them more than they could ever extort from you to play the case out
Make them earn every cent
Hold up their money as long as possible
Or even get the fines reduced or not at all
Courts operate on the money they can bring in
If everyone is paying the fines without working the players , they win
Make these bastards work for it
“….She said she plans to fight the ticket in front of a judge….”
Don’t just fight the ticket; sue the airline.
They get people accustomed to tyranny by inflicting it in one place, and then expanding it. In our case it’s the airlines. If the TSA can grope you on your way in, why should you object to the practice when it happens elsewhere? (it’s already moved to stadiums and arenas)
And if you can be fined $500 for possession of an apple, you can be fined for anything, and fighting the ticket is usually more expensive than paying it.
Every summons written by an officer is a fictitious document, not lawful. A lawful summons MUST be signed by the clerk of the court and have the stamp of the court. see: Federal Rules of Civil Procedures, Rule 4. Also see your states court rules. Most states have the same rule, word for word…. rule 4……….. There are numerous codes and statutes on writing false, fictitious document and the officers and D.A. can be held personally liable for their actions.
That one high price for free apple. If the judge on meth are is common sense left the house