Another American pays hefty fine in Brazil after making obscene gesture du

[Judi Lynn]

Another American pays hefty fine in Brazil after making obscene gesture during fingerprinting

ALAN CLENDENNING, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, February 7, 2004



(02-07) 12:06 PST SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) --

A second American paid a hefty fine for making an obscene gesture during fingerprinting procedures for U.S. citizens in Brazil, police said Saturday.

Douglas A. Skolnick will be allowed to leave the southeastern resort town of Foz do Iguacu with his tour group Sunday after paying $17,200 for raising his middle finger when he was fingerprinted and photographed, said federal police spokesman Marcos Koren.

The customs requirements were imposed in response to similar U.S. rules for citizens of Brazil and many other countries. The United States says its rules will help prevent terrorists from entering the country.

Skolnick, who arrived in Brazil on Friday, was taken before a judge early Saturday after being arrested and jailed for hours on the charge of showing contempt to authorities.

Skolnick, 55, of New Jersey, said he made the gesture as a joke, agreed to pay the fine and told the judge he was sorry, Koren said. Skolnick's hometown was not immediately known.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/07/international1506EST0574.DTL

[LostInTheMaise]

1. Is it time to enforce the same here?

Should any rebellion and signs here be met with huge fines and headlines? Is that what we want?

[cubsfan6969]

2. Waste of money

What a waste of money. For that much money, you could buy a Brazilian family of four!

[newyawker99]

4. Hi cubsfan6969!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Mikimouse]

3. Glad to see that the Brazilians are sticking to their guns...

Keep fining these idiots and maybe, just maybe, they may learn to respect the rights and sovereignity of other nations and peoples. Apparently, this moran has more money than class or brains.