Student gets $637 fine for swearing

MESQUITE, Texas, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A Texas high school student said she took on a job waiting tables to pay $637 in fines stemming from using a profanity in a classroom.

Victoria Mullins, 17, a senior at North Mesquite High School in Mesquite, said she was sent to the principal's office after using a profanity in teacher Michelle Lene's class Oct. 6 and the school resource officer issued her a $340 ticket for disorderly conduct/abusive language, The Dallas Morning News reported Monday.

Mullins pleaded not guilty Oct. 21 but failed to show for a Nov. 18 court hearing, resulting in a $100 penalty, plus a $50 fee when a warrant was issued for her arrest Jan. 21 and a $147 collection fee.

"I didn't really know what to do. I didn't have the money to pay for it," she said.

Mullins said she is now waiting tables to pay off the fine.

School district spokesman Ian Halperin said parents should take warning from the incident.

"If your kids do something, there's a way to handle it to mitigate these situations before you get to this point," Halperin said.