STORM2K

Woman Fined For Offensive Comment On Parking Ticket Payment

POSTED: 9:58 a.m. EDT June 11, 2003

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- A woman's decision to write an offensive comment on her check when she paid a parking ticket has proven costly: She had to pay an additional $100 fine for contempt of court.

Eva Sas, 24, made an anatomical reference in the memo portion of the $22 check she mailed to the New Brunswick Municipal Court. She received the contempt summons last month after Ralph Stanzione, the city's chief judge, refused to accept her check.

"Maybe what I did was a bit immature or disrespectful, but it's my right, and it's not illegal," Sas said.


A 1999 directive from the state judiciary, which oversees municipal courts, prohibits judges from penalizing citizens for writing obscene comments. Court officials would not comment on why the order was not followed in this case.

Sas, a Rutgers University student, initially planned to appeal but instead paid the fine last month -- in cash.

She shouldn't have to pay because the directive wasn't followed, plain and simple.

I'd like to know what was written on there, it may not be, and someone just got offended and wanted someone to pay more.

I just hope the comment was worth the $100.00. Sometimes they are

Reminds me of what I had written on the envelope that the credit card company sends you for payment. I would write the word "CROOKS" on the back of it until I paid them off. lol.