# How does someone pay a fine of a huge amount of money that they'll never be able to repay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 26, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678 "2021-12-26T19:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/21 "2021-12-26T22:25:02Z")
😒 Oops, I put a few too many zeros on that. I could have _sworn_ the story I saw said $250 million. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/22 "2021-12-26T22:30:38Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > By the way, this is why someone with at least moderate assets should have an umbrella policy. It’s not very expensive and will protect you against stuff like this. Really? In Canada, you can’t insure yourself against criminal actions, so an umbrella policy wouldn’t cover a fine for a criminal conviction. ETA: sorry, I thought i was responding to the last post in the thread. I see it’s already been covered. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/23 "2021-12-26T22:43:38Z")
Sometimes they actually DO just write a check. # [St. Louis receives $790 million settlement payout from Rams lawsuit](https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/nfl/rams/st-louis-rams-lawsuit-settlement-payment/63-8a15ab46-be01-4201-ab41-0b7812b51b8e) > St. Louis County Chief Communications Officer Doug Moore confirmed the $790 million settlement agreed upon to end the lawsuit over the Rams’ relocation has been paid as of Dec. 24. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/24 "2021-12-26T22:52:03Z")
No, [DeadState.org](https://deadstate.org/woman-who-punched-flight-attendant-in-the-face-is-now-facing-20-years-in-prison/) actually _did_ say $250 million. Sorry, I should have posted it. But yeah, probably not that much, right? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/25 "2021-12-26T22:53:58Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > No, [DeadState.org](https://deadstate.org/woman-who-punched-flight-attendant-in-the-face-is-now-facing-20-years-in-prison/) actually _did_ say $250 million. I still have to go with ‘no’ on that one. From the DeadState article: > A woman from California who assaulted a Southwest Airlines flight attendant back in May now faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/26 "2021-12-26T22:57:13Z")
“My father’s not crazy, and I can prove it!” They must have retracted their original post. It’s still showing up as $250 million on my screen. [![](https://i.imgur.com/04Y7BEa.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/04Y7BEa.jpg) ETA: Yeah, I just reloaded it and the correct amount, $250,000, is now showing up. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/27 "2021-12-26T23:01:42Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > No, [DeadState.org](https://deadstate.org/woman-who-punched-flight-attendant-in-the-face-is-now-facing-20-years-in-prison/) actually _did_ say $250 million. Sorry, I should have posted it. But yeah, probably not that much, right? I guessed somewhere had probably actually written it. The advantage to posting the link is that we can mock them, instead of mocking you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/28 "2021-12-27T04:25:27Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Chefguy](#): > > Bitch needs to pay. Please avoid gender-specific epithets like this. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/29 "2021-12-27T12:48:05Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > “My father’s not crazy, and I can prove it!” They must have retracted their original post. It’s still showing up as $250 million on my screen. I must say, that IS a lot of cache. [I’d like to formally apologize to all for that one – especially to those who aren’t particularly computer-savvy] ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/30 "2021-12-27T15:32:43Z")
FYI, some news sites, like those of traditional newspapers, will note corrections made to online articles. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/31 "2021-12-27T15:48:26Z")
I forget the specifics, but there was a **Law & Order** quote that fits here. During a plea deal McCoy has made a generous offer and the defendants lawyer seems happy with it, but the defendant says, “I can’t do fifteen years” to which McCoy replies, “well, do what you can”. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/32 "2021-12-27T16:58:29Z")
Another good comeback could be: “I can’t do fifteen years” “Maybe you can - there’s only one way to find out.” ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/33 "2021-12-27T17:28:16Z")
The factual answer to this is I believe that your wages can be garnished forever. Criminal fines cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, so they just follow you around and some percentage of any money you get can be seized to pay them. If you never fully pay the fine then it will last until your death. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/34 "2021-12-27T17:43:16Z")
It will remain as a judgement against the person until it is paid back. For most people this means it will never be paid back because the person is never going to be able to make that much money. But if they come into some money through an inheritance, insurance settlement, or something like that, the court will take that money and apply it to the judgement. This is sometimes the case with financial fraud cases. A fraudster bilks millions from investors and is ordered to pay it back as restitution. But since the fraudster can only make that much money through fraud, they won’t be able to make enough money legitimately to pay it back, especially if they are going to be spending some time in jail. But having the judgement means that if the fraudster ever comes into a windfall or tries to retrieve some hidden money from the fraud, the court can seize those assets and apply it to the judgement. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/35 "2021-12-27T21:52:55Z")
In the case of OJ he lost his heisman trophy. He was forced to sell it. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/36 "2021-12-28T00:06:52Z")
I always wonder, what’s the value of a trophy once it’s sold to someone else? After that, isn’t it just another run-of-the-mill statue? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/37 "2021-12-28T00:17:10Z")
It’s inscribed or at least has provenance. It’s a Heisman. There have only been 86 ever. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/38 "2021-12-28T19:05:21Z")
This guy seem pretty stuck. 😄 > **[Australian man ‘cannot leave Israel for 8,000 years’ over unpaid child support](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/28/australian-man-cannot-leave-israel-for-8000-years-over-unpaid-child-support)** > > Noam Huppert says he is subject to travel ban until the year 9999 because he owes £1.8m to ex-wife ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/39 "2021-12-28T19:18:32Z")
Is the Guardian now stooping to these dumb clickbait headlines that are immediatly contradicted by the content of the article? > It appears the year 9999 was arbitrarily set because it was the highest possible date allowed by the online system. So he’s not stuck there for 8,000 years or _any_ set amount of time. That’s obviously just the way the computer system handles the fact that he’s stuck there until he _fulfills a condition_ - to pay the child support he owes, and presumably to give the Israeli authorities some kind of financial guarantee that he will continue paying it if he leaves the country. As for the amount owed - it says £1,200 per month for each of two children until they are 18. That hardly seems like an outrageous amount. For the entire 18 years that’s around £500k, not the £1.8 million in the headline. tl;dr - deadbeat Dad who owes child support is lying; the journalism is crap ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678/40 "2021-12-28T19:37:37Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Is the Guardian now stooping to these dumb clickbait headlines that are immediatly contradicted by the content of the article? Perhaps the Guardian has a sense of humour, and they assume most of their readers do too? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-someone-pay-a-fine-of-a-huge-amount-of-money-that-theyll-never-be-able-to-repay/956678.md?page=3)