A construction worker was fined $525 after he failed to pay an 89-cent refill fee at a Veterans Affairs hospital, according to the Associated Press.
Christopher Lewis was working on site at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in North Charleston, S.C., when he decided to get a second serving of soda during his lunch hour on Wednesday. Several reports stated that he there are signs in the cafeteria telling customers that refills are not free.
A federal police officer approached Lewis in the hospital's cafeteria and issued him a ticket. a hospital spokesperson called "theft of government property," according to WCSC-TV. Lewis said he did not notice the signs and has refilled his drink without paying before.
"As I was filling my cup up, I turned to walk off and a fella grabbed me by the arm and asked me was I going to pay for that, and I told him I wasn't aware that I had to pay for that," Lewis told WCSC-TV.
Lewis added: "Every time I look at the ticket, it's unbelievable to me. I can't fathom the fact that I made a $0.89 mistake that cost me $525."
According to Lewis, who is currently unemployed, he was not given the chance to pay for the refill and was later told not to return to the property. Lewis plans to contest the fine in federal court.
"I'm done there, at the VA hospital," Lewis told WCSC-TV. "I'm not allowed to go on the premises anymore. I asked him can I still work on the job site and just bring my lunch and not got to the cafeteria and he said he wanted me off the premises."
A hospital spokesperson released a statement to WCSC-TV.
"Today a Federal citation was issued for shoplifting in the VA cafeteria to an individual who stated to VA police he had not paid for refills of beverages on multiple occasions, even though signs are posted in the cafeteria informing patrons refills are not free," the hospital statement read. "Shoplifting is a crime. The dollar amount of the ticket is not determined by VA as it is a Federal citation. The citation may be paid or the recipient may choose to appear in Federal court to contest it."
