Fines

Sandra Hoopes stared at the piece of paper in her hands, transfixed by the numbers glaring back at her. Six hundred thousand dollars.

Lindsay Hoopes is a small business owner facing nearly $4 million in fines for hosting wine tastings. At her licensed winery.

Jeffrey Hagen destroyed no buildings. He harmed no one. His offense, according to the State of Nevada, is submitting design drawings.

Robin and Ron Fodé can pinpoint the date and exact time the troubles began for their family-owned farm of over 40 years. It was February 14, 2017, at 3:30 in the afternoon. Valentine’s Day.

The long report was a recommendation to commissioners: to fine John Levy, a Carlsbad homeowner, $2.5 million over two locked gates. A hearing was thirteen days away.