But if we're talking about being fined unfairly, this one man from Austria probably didn't deserve it.
A gas attack
An Austria court recently had to decide on the appeal of a most peculiar case – a case of a man farting in front of police.Yes, you read that right.
According a report by Inquirer.net, citing several news sites and court documents, the incident happened in June last year when the man was sitting on a bench at a park, hanging out with friends.
He was then approached by police officers for a routine identity check.
According to court documents, the man then decided to let one rip.
“When he released the intestinal gas, the complainant was sitting on a park bench. He then lifted his buttocks and tensed up a little before letting the intestinal gas escape.
“The complainant’s friends laughed at the intestinal gas and witness F made a joke. Due to the resulting entertainment from the intestinal gas, the defendant grinned at the officers,” the court document read, as cited in the report.
For the ‘offence’, the man received a €500 (RM2,484) fine. However, not happy with the fine, the man decided to appeal the case.
In his appeal, he argued that farting was a “biological process” that even if intentional, it would amount to freedom of expression.
The Vienna Regional Administrative Court decided that this farting incident was not a case of “pure body stimuli” as it was done so in a “form of expression that transcends the boundaries of decency".
Considering the man’s clean record and financial status, his fine was reduced to €100 (RM497).
The man’s lawyer was quoted in the report as saying that they would be appealing the case further at the country’s constitutional court, as they felt that it’s "petty to get punishment for a fart".
Boy, the next time you're being approached by the police, try to hold your fart in, OK?