Details save Maine paraglider a $200 fine

BANGOR, Maine, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A man avoided a $200 fine for paragliding from Maine's Mount Katahdin by pointing out the activity is not specifically banned there.

While 47-year-old Christopher Kroot admitted he paraglided from the top of Mount Katahdin last year, his attorney successfully argued the activity was not on the list of prohibited activities in the park's regulations, The Bangor (Maine) Daily News said Saturday.

"No person shall fly, cause to be flown, or permit any model craft, hot air balloon or hang gliding device of any kind in the park," current park policy says.

Attorney Richard Johnson used that wording to his advantage last month when defending his client's actions on June 16, 2007, and those actions were deemed legal since paragliding is not officially named in the park's policy.

"My client was privileged to do what he did because it was not prohibited," Johnson said during his client's Jan. 23 court date.

Kroot's luck in the air held true in the courtroom as he avoided the $200 fine for the incident and Johnson agreed to take on the case pro bono, the newspaper said.