Parking Ticket of Marine in Iraq Forgiven
Brad Gaumont had a good excuse for not paying his parking ticket.
The 23-year-old Marine corporal from Saco, Maine, was fighting in Iraq when he received a notice from the city of Los Angeles demanding payment for the outstanding ticket he got before shipping out.
Gaumont, his family told Mayor James K. Hahn’s office, didn’t have his checkbook with him.
On Thursday, a Hahn spokesperson said the ticket was forgiven. A confirmation letter is on the way.
“The Department of Transportation and the city decided that it was not handled in the manner consistent with the expectation of service,” spokesperson Angie Levine said.
Gaumont was overseas when he got mail from home that included the notice that his overdue fine had increased from $45 to $100.
“Mom, I’m in kind of a bind here,” he wrote home. “Can you tell them I’ll pay for the ticket when I get back to the U.S.?”
According to his family, the Marine, who wants to be a police officer, was concerned that the ticket would hurt his chances.
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