Austin, Texas, Scam Snares Unwary Pilots

I just got finished a 777 Tokyo trip with the most meticulous,
cautious
captain I've seen in years.

He (and earlier another American pilot) recently got caught up in
Lakeway's New
Millenium version of a rural southern speedtrap.

My guy landed in daylight, having been giving sightseeing rides to
residents. At about 100 feet on short final, he heard a voice saying
that the airport was closed.

The comment made no sense, and he landed.

Ten minutes or so later, as he walked to his car, a constable pulled
up
and issued him a $ 1 , 2 0 0 "citation" for landing after sunset.

Never mind the fact he'd been on the ground for some time: he had no
proof of actual landing time. It became obvious to him, as he
protested this injustice, that he'd uncovered a carefully planned
scheme to defraud hapless visitors to this community.

Protesting it in a rigged local court proved nearly pointless. He
ended up "negotiating" the fine to $750 and was put on two-year
"probation" for this criminal act.

The general aviation community has no room for sleeze of this nature,
and its pilots need to be made aware that these Lakeway miscreants
have somehow infiltrated our ranks.

Add Lakeway to Crawford as qualifying for the "black magic-marker
treatment" on your Texas sectionals!