Of Course, He Had To Pay The Fine...

Douglas Skolnick of Franklin Lakes (NJ) headed home from Brazil Sunday -- $17,200 lighter in the wallet.

Skolnick was arrested in the resort town of Foz do Iguacu when he arrived with a tour group including his wife. As he was being routinely photographed and fingerprinted, Skolnick raised his middle finger in a gesture that can only be interpreted as... defiant.

The New Jersey man was promptly arrested on charges of showing contempt for authorities. So, while his tour group visited the local waterfalls and other sights, Skolnick was marking time in a jail cell.

Skolnick was fined $17,200 for the rude gesture. He paid it and was released to rejoin his tour group. "He is free to roam around Manaus," federal police spokesman Marcos Koren said. "He and Brazil are even."

Skolnick was the second American arrested for flying the fickle finger of... well, you know the rest... in Brazil since that country issued new rules requiring all Americans entering the country be fingerprinted and photographed. The rules came in apparent retaliation for new American requirements instituted in the name of homeland security. The first American arrested in Brazil for flipping the bird was an American Airlines pilot -- Dale Robin Hersh. He was returned to the US after he paid a $12,700 fine.

FMI: www.brasilemb.org