The VA hospital that slapped a $525 federal fine on a man after he refilled his 89-cent drink without paying has backed down, choosing to issue a warning instead of a citation, a spokesperson for the facility said Thursday.
Christopher T. Lewis, of North Charleston, was issued the $525 citation on Wednesday after he ignored signage indicating that there?s no such thing as a free lunch ? or complimentary drink refills ? at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. Lewis, who is not a federal employee, told responding officers he had done the same thing ?multiple times? before and never had any problems, hospital spokeswoman Tonya Lobbestael told FoxNews.com.
?Shoplifting is against the law and the signage is very clearly posted on the drink machine,? Lobbestael said. ?The same citation could be issued to anyone who is shoplifting.?
But Lobbestael said Thursday afternoon that the medical center had decided "a warning in lieu of a citation is sufficient in this case." Authorities said earlier Thursday that Lewis, a construction worker who was employed near the medical center, also had been banned from his work site. It was not immediately clear whether that penalty remained in effect.
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