Imagine you are 16 and owe a 36 million dollar fine
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
Eugene, Oregon
May 21, 2018 11:22am CST
As a result of a really dumb prank, a young man, age 16, owes a huge fine, ordered by a federal judge today. A payment schedule will be set and he and maybe his parents will be on the hook. Bankruptcy will not save them from this fine.
The fine stems from last summer, when the then 15 year old kid threw a fire cracker into a bone-dry canyon and started a fire that burned nearly 49000 acres in this wonderfully scenic area and cost 38 million dollars to extinguish.
I suppose there will be an appeal. The defendant's attorney called the amount "absurd."
After ten years, if he does not get involved in other problems and makes the payments, the debt could be erased.
Does that amount seem like too much to you? Does his age excuse his behavior?
Link to news of the fire:
http://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/index.ssf/2018/02/teen_suspected_of_starting_col.html
18 people like this
17 responses
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
22 May 18
@JamesHxstatic This is also my opinion, People understand only when they have to pay money.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 May 18
True, but paying for ten years at least might serve as a lesson to him and others.
6 people like this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
21 May 18
I don't think he will be doing that again. A hefty fine looks good on him. Besides, its only 10 years. Might teach him some responsibility. He can work and stay at home with his parents while he gives his paycheques toward the fine. Young people get away with too much. His 'sentence' will be up when he's 26 and the debt will be erased. 
7 people like this
@popciclecold (35111)
• United States
22 May 18
That is a lot, but consider the damage. At 15, bet he won't do it anymore.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 May 18
Yes, he created huge problems in that area.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246906)
• United States
22 May 18
I read this online and doesn't deserve to be excused. 15 is old enough to know better. I'm hopeful he will mend his ways and set an example for others. He should make every attempt to pay for at least ten years or until the judge dismisses the fine.
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 May 18
I agree and he will be in contempt of court if he does not pay.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
21 May 18
He could never repay $38 million in his lifetime.
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 May 18
He will probably apply for relief after ten years if an appeal does not lower the amount.
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
12 Jun 18
He won't be able to pay that sort of amount in his lifetime. What he did was really horrible and his parents didn't ask him to do that. He was only 16 years old when he did this so I think he would be too young get this fine in England. I would advise him to behave well for the rest of his life.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
22 May 18
He's regretting the prank as we speak.
Serves him right.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
23 May 18
That is an enormous amount of money to repay and what the young man has done ruins the whole family's life.I think the amount of fine is open to discussion,but small amount of fine is not enough to assuage popular indignation and to be a warning to others.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 May 18
True. A just punishment is a dilemma in a case like this.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 May 18
Maybe so, but since he is a minor, his parents are liable too.
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
22 May 18
I saw the headline of this on Bing this morning. I didn't read the article though. I think that's outrageous to give that much to a teenager. But I think he has learned his lesson now.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 May 18
Yes it is, but his dumb prank caused so much damage and put so many people at risk.
1 person likes this
