Make a prohibited phone call – get fined $22,000

And I thought anti-cellphone rules in my schools were draconian. A New Jersey substitute teacher made a quickie phone call in class, when she wasn't supposed to – and now she's being fined $22,000 for the crime.

ASBURY PARK, N.J. — The attorney for a New Jersey teacher says she won't appeal a $22,000 fine for making a personal call during class.

The attorney says the Asbury Park High School teacher admits she made a mistake.

The 120-day salary forfeiture is based on calendar days and will be deducted from a base salary of about $70,000. That's less than a previous estimate of nearly $50,000.

Court records show the veteran performing arts teacher was covering for another teacher in 2008 when she made the cell-phone call.

I think there's a freakin' limit between reasonable discipline and punishment, and stuff like this that's frickin' insane. $22,000 – for one pathetic little phone call? Wonder what the students would pay if their ringer went of in class? Totally ridiculous.