The Million Dollar Baby star Hillary Swank was fined for her illegal attempt to import some fruits through New Zealand border on January 15. Actually there ware only an apple and an orange, but it is enough for being declared. The actress ignored the law, and was forced to pay a $150 fine for the fruits found in her hand luggage when she arrived at Auckland International Airport.
Hillary Swank is not the first and not the last one. William Minchin, the spokesman of Ministry of Agriculture and Foresty said: "It's a pretty standard practice to issue an instant fine for a biosecurity risk," the Sunday Star Times reported. He also added that thousands of New Zealand’s visitors each year are fined on the same reason, and hundreds contest the fines. The strict quarantine prevents frequent fruit and vegetable's insects contamination, which can damage crops and livestock.
But the point of the story is that Swank doesn’t want to loose her money. The Boy’s Don’t Cry star gathered some lawyers to appear in the court this week to contest the fine and clear her name.