Beethoven Delivers a Rap Across the Knuckles
Andrew Vactor was fond of listening to rap music (is that a contradiction of terms?) in his car, and he had a habit of turning the volume up high. Eventually, of course, he had to face the music. Literally.
Judge Susan Fornof-Lippencott, Champaign County Municipal Court Judge, imposed a fine of $150 on Vactor for playing his music too loudly, but offered to reduce the fine to $35 if the accused would spend 20 hours listening to composed by Bach, Beethoven and Chopin.
Well, to be fair, the twenty-four-year-old gave it a go but, according to a probation office, he lasted about 15 minutes before giving up and paying the full fine.
Vactor said that the classical music wasn't the problem, he just wanted to be at a practice session with the rest of the Urbana University basketball team.
Judge Fornof-Lippencott says she was trying to make him understand that people don't like to be forced to listen to music they don't fully appreciate.
She says she's also taped TV shows for defendants in other cases to watch on topics such as financial responsibility. As she sees it, they get the chance to have their fine reduced "and at the same time broaden their horizons."
