Pierce Brosnan Fined $500 For Yellowstone Violation

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan got a relatively light sentence for hiking off trail in Yellowstone National Park in November.

He could have received the maximum sentence of $5,000.

According to SweetwaterNOW:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Pierce Brosnan, 70, of Malibu, California, was fined $500, and required to pay a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee, and a $10 special assessment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 14, in Mammoth, Wyoming. 

Mr. Brosnan pleaded guilty to foot travel in a thermal area. According to court documents, on or about Nov. 1, 2023, Brosnan uploaded pictures to his Instagram page of himself standing on a Yellowstone National Park thermal feature at Mammoth Hot Springs. There are signs posted in the area that warn visitors of the dangers of thermal features and state that visitors must remain on the designated boardwalks and trails.

The United States Attorney’s Office asked the court to sentence Brosnan to 2 years’ probation and the maximum fine of $5,000.

 At least Brosnan owned up to it by pleading guilty.

To read more, go here.

Photos and VIdeos In National Parks May Require Permits

Above, the entrance sign to Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

These are weird times we're living in.

Suppose you go to Grand Canyon National Park on vacation and shoot videos or still photographs of your visit and post them on YouTube or some other social media that's monetized, you could be busted by the National Park Service and fined for not obtaining a permit to do so.

Sounds bizarre, right?

RV Travel posted an article stating that this is the case.

They start it out with:

Do you film videos for your YouTube, TikTok, or other social media site? If you shoot video on property managed by the National Park Service and your site is monetized, look out! Ditto for still photos that you end up posting. A recent court ruling says anyone who has the “intent of generating income” from video shot in national parks—and other lands managed by the Service—must receive advanced permission to do so. Shoot without a permit and post it, you may find yourself in the crosshairs of the law.

"The simple act of photographing or videotaping a funny animal in, for example,Yellowstone, and then posting it online may once again be illegal just because a permit was not obtained beforehand."

To read more, go here. 

NM Admin Office of Courts: Eliminate All Court Fees For Violators and Bill Taxpayers

There is one political party in New Mexico who has controls over the state government: the Democrat Party. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a left-wing Democrat, appoints members of the judiciary as well as members of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

Around the country, that party have been eliminating monetary bail and other fees and letting criminals go free until their court dates, as if they'd show up. This is resulting in skyrocketing crime and turning Democrat run states and cities into shitholes.

New Mexico now wants to do the same and shift the burden onto taxpayers. They want to start with minor traffic offenses and misdemeanors, but this will eventually lead to higher crimes as in other Democrat-run states.

According to Law Enforcement Today:

Sante Fe, NM: The New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, or AOC, is proposing to eliminate a variety of fees associated with traffic offenses and misdemeanor fines, essentially passing on the loss of revenue to law-abiding taxpayers.

AOC is requesting that lawmakers make up the loss of 16 million dollars from the general fund.

Are you okay with paying for people who broke the law?

Critics of the court system’s fees claim that those who are already financially burdened are just led into a deeper hole after being slapped with a variety of fees from their wrongdoing. These people whose fines are imposed on may be led into committing more crimes to pay for past fines.

There's an old saying, "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime!" This should also apply to those who commit traffic offenses and misdemeanors. "If you can't pay the fees and fines, don't do the crime."

Yes, this appears to be an extension of New Mexico's "catch and release" criminal justice system.

To read more, go here. 

Biden's COVID-19 "Action Plan" Doubles TSA Mask Fines

Above, a flight to Salt Lake City last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The authoritarian "action plan" of His Fraudulency Joe Biden announced yesterday includes several edicts.

Yahoo! News has listed them in an article posted yesterday. 

They start with:

• Biden's Covid plan released Thursday will double fines for travelers who violate TSA mask mandates.

• It raises the minimum fine to $500 and the maximum fine to $3000 for repeat offenders.

• Clashes over masks make up more than 75% of unruly passenger complaints during air travel.

President Biden's COVID-19 action plan released Thursday will double fines for travelers who violate the TSA mask mandates covering air travel and some modes of public transportation.

Passengers who do not comply with the mask-wearing policies currently face fines starting at $250 and increasing up to $1,500 for repeat offenders. The new guidelines will raise the minimum fine to $500 and the maximum fine to $3000.

To read more, go here. 

Poland: $2.2 Million Fines For Removing Lawful Free Speech

While our so-called conservative Republican Party dithers over infringements on our free speech rights by leftist Democrats and their social media masters, Poland is taking a different approach.

The Federalist posted: 

(Newswars)  A new law set to be passed in Poland would fine social media companies $2.2 million a pop for censoring lawful free speech.

While numerous western countries are seeking to impose heavy fines on the likes of Facebook and Twitter for failing to remove “hateful” content, Poland is taking a very different approach.

“Under its provisions, social media services will not be allowed to remove content or block accounts if the content on them does not break Polish law,” reports Poland In.

“In the event of removal or blockage, a complaint can be sent to the platform, which will have 24 hours to consider it. Within 48 hours of the decision, the user will be able to file a petition to the court for the return of access. The court will consider complaints within seven days of receipt and the entire process is to be electronic.”

We need this here!

To read more, go here. 

Lujan Grisham's Attorneys Ask NM Supreme Court To Resolve Fines Issue

Japan was able to get cooperation of citizens and businesses for staying-at-home and lockdowns without the need of threats and fines. This was something that New Mexico's dictatorial shrimp Governor "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham should have taken a hard look at, but didn't.

Instead, she used threats, fines and her personal Gestapo, the New Mexico State Police, to coerce people into following her orders in lockstep.

A number of New Mexico businesses have filed suit against the governor's excessive $5,000/day fines imposed on businesses whose only crime was only to make a living and stay financially afloat.

According to the Albuquerque Journal:

SANTA FE – Attorneys for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham are asking the state Supreme Court to resolve legal questions over the administration’s authority to issue hefty fines for violating emergency public health orders. 

The request comes after about a dozen business owners and companies accused Lujan Grisham of improperly threatening businesses with daily $5,000 fines if they reopen their businesses in violation of the health orders. 

The businesses filed a lawsuit – backed by the Republican Party of New Mexico – in state District Court challenging the fines. 

The Supreme Court issued an order staying the lower-court proceedings and asking the plaintiffs to respond to the governor’s petition by this coming Monday. The justices, however, haven’t decided whether to take the case. 

Lujan Grisham attorneys Matthew Garcia and Jonathan Guss urged the Supreme Court to step in now rather than let the lawsuit work its way through other courts, only to reach the justices eventually.

I hope the businesses are successful in their lawsuit against the governor's unconstitutional actions.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Imposes Ban and Fine On Geisha Photography On Private Streets

Above, a geisha photo taken at Asakusa's Senso-ji temple grounds. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign tourists to Japan have been causing problems in some areas.

One of which is in Kyoto's Gion geisha district. Overeager and rude tourists have been harassing geishas for photographs on private streets.

Four years ago, we traveled to Kyoto and my traveling companion wanted to take a photo of a geisha. Instead of just snapping a picture, she asked for permission first. The geisha consented and the photo was taken.

Unfortunately, other foreign tourists aren't being as courteous.

As the problem of rude tourists has escalated, a fine has now been imposed, roughly $100.

Time Out Tokyo reported:

The Gion district is one of Kyoto’s most popular tourist attractions, famous for its well-preserved heritage roads flanked by wooden machiya (teahouses), which conserve the neighbourhood's Edo-period charm. The picturesque streets are one of the best areas to spot geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha) on their way to work. However, in recent years, tourists have been racing around like paparazzi to take photos of geisha or maiko, sometimes even trespassing on private property to get the best shot.  

Kyoto has had enough with the unruly tourist behaviours. Japan Today reports that an ‘association made up of local residents and shop owners has forbidden photography on private roads'. Beginning October 25, there will be a ¥10,000 fine for photos taken on private streets. Right now, the rule is announced on flyers and signs, and enforced through video surveillance. It’s okay to take pictures on the main roads, such as the well-known Hanami-koji, the historic Shirakawa-dori and the atmospheric Sannenzaka Slope which leads to Yasaka Pagoda (pictured top) – but not on the more tranquil alleys branching off from the main roads. Yes, those streets may look more alluring and are less tourist-filled, but the residents' privacy is much more important than a photographic souvenir. 

To read more, go here. 

Camping World Fights For Its Huge Flag In North Carolina

Above, the flag at Camping World in Valencia, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A big battle is brewing between Camping World in North Carolina and the city of Statesville over Camping World's enormous U.S. flag.

Camping World, an RV dealer and supplier, flies enormous flags at their stores to honor veterans and military members.

Statesville has filed a lawsuit and is fining Camping World over the flag.

According to The Daily Caller:

A North Carolina company is fighting fines and a lawsuit reportedly from the city over flying a huge American flag. 

Camping World flies a 40-by-80-foot flag outside of its Gander RV location in Statesville, North Carolina, as a way to honor military members and veterans. The city, however, believes Camping World is violating codes that say a flag cannot be more than 25-by-40 feet if it is flown 100 feet from a highway, WSOC reported Monday. 

Camping World, an outdoor supply and RV company, said it faces a $50 per day fine retroactive to Oct. 15, 2018. 

“I don’t care if it goes to $500 a day,” Marcus Lemonis, CEO and chairman of Camping World and Gander RV, said according to WSOC. “It’s not coming down.” 

A Statesville spokesperson said the city began fining the company after asking it to take down the flag several times, WSOC reported. City officials failed 3-5 to vote in an ordinance that would allow Camping World to fly a flag of its size.

Many RV enthusiasts, including me, have issues with some of Camping World's business practices. But in this matter, I am fully in Camping World's corner.

To read more, go here. 

DOT Fines 3 Airlines For Violating Passengers' Rights

Three airlines were smacked down with fines for violating passengers' rights, according to an article in Travel + Leisure.

They wrote:

On Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOT) fined Frontier Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines for violating various consumer protection rules, Reuters reported. 

According to the DOT, the largest fine was given to Frontier Airlines, which was fined $400,000 for violating oversales and disability rules, while American Airlines was fined $250,000 for failing to make timely refunds to passengers. Delta Air Lines was also fined $200,000 for filing inaccurate baggage reports.

To read more, go here.