Man Parks Car, Returns to $25,000 Parking Ticket: 'No Intention of Paying'

An East Bay resident was stunned when a trip to a local ski resort left him with an unusual parking ticket that seemed to demand thousands of dollars.

While visiting Northstar California Resort, a popular spot for snowboarding and skiing in North Lake Tahoe, the visitor who goes by the name Booterthan was stunned to come back to a parking ticket that appeared to be for $25,000.

"I parked in one of their side parking lots just two days ago. These lots I've parked in several times last season and never got a parking ticket," Booterthan told Newsweek, adding that he even sought confirmation from an employee about the chosen spot. "I spoke to an employee if I was OK to park where I did as I didn't see many others there—I got there super early in the morning—and he said it was fine."

A spokesperson for Northstar California Resort told Newsweek: "The information on this citation is incorrect and not typical in any capacity. We do not have any record of this incident and encourage the guest to contact us directly, as our team is committed to resolving any issues promptly and ensuring a positive experience for all guests."

When Booterthan arrived back at the car and saw the fine on the ticket, he was stunned. He quickly took a picture to share on Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, where it has since gained viral attention.

Then, a Reddit user pointed out a subtle detail that changed the entire narrative. "No. The amount is not correct. The first person to point it out was u/frogger4625, who realized the '1' in 25011 was a pixel or so longer than the '1' in the date. He realized that it was supposed to say '$250, all appeals MUST be made,'" Booterthan said.

Expressing disbelief at the ticket, Booterthan said: "Personally, $250 seems absolutely ridiculous as a parking ticket. [I have] no intention of paying."

Despite the misprint being discovered, the incident gained traction on social media, with over 24,000 upvotes and more than 1,500 comments on Reddit.

"It's probably a trick to get you to go in and actually pay it," user Impressive_Pen_6178 wrote, while Who_Your_Mommy added: "Where did you park?? In a handicapped spot on top of some children or something??"

However, others weren't convinced. One commenter posted that it looks fake, while another wrote: "Obviously it's wrong so that means it's void."

"Honestly, I just thought the amount printed was funny. I never thought it was supposed to be 25,000," Booterthan said.

As the post gained popularity, some accused Booterthan of purposefully posting for content. "More and more people started saying I was an idiot for not seeing the '1s' were actually lowercase 'Ls,'" he added.

Thankfully, though, Booterthan did have a sense of humor about it, and wasn't too concerned, adding: "I think the whole thing is hilarious."