While New York may be trying to raise revenue by cracking down on city beekeepers, this looks like one sting operation that got its stinger broken off in the wound: inspectors fined a Queens man $2,000 for “not watering his beehive.”

If that seems high, get this. There’s a watering dish two feet away from the hive. Not to mention that the man’s property sits near several ponds. Clearly, the bees have options if they want a drink.

“I felt sorry for the inspector. I thought we should probably buy him some glasses,” the man socked with the fine told CBS2.

After CBS2 called the city, the fine was changed to a warning after officials “thought it through.” When you get stung by bureaucracy, sometimes the power of the press is what it takes to soothe the wound.

Un-BEE-lievable: NYC Fines Man $2,000 For Not Watering His Hive [CBS2] (Thanks to Cicadymn!)

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