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Judge Waives Parking Fines So Dad Can Keep Supporting Son’s Space Dreams

June 27, 2025

When a father walked into Judge Frank Caprio’s courtroom, he wasn’t just carrying unpaid parking tickets—he was carrying the weight of doing everything he could for his 8-year-old son.

The man explained that his car had been booted due to unpaid fines. Between long work hours and caring for his child, he hadn’t been able to get caught up.

“I had every intention of paying them, Your Honor,” the man said. “I just needed a little more time.”

Credit: Frank Caprio on Facebook

What happened next is exactly why Judge Caprio is known around the world as “the nicest judge in the world.”

Instead of focusing only on the unpaid tickets, Judge Caprio saw something deeper—a loving, responsible father doing his best to raise a good kid.

“You’re a responsible man,” Caprio told him. “And responsibility shows up in more ways than just paying tickets. It shows up in the way you raise your son.”

As the two talked, the man shared that his young son dreamed of becoming an astronaut. He even bought him a tiny space suit and a telescope to nurture that dream.

That was the moment everything changed. Rather than hand down a fine, Judge Caprio offered something far more meaningful.

“Take that money and keep investing in your son’s dreams,” he told the father. “Keep buying him those telescopes and space suits.”

Judge Frank Caprio, a longtime municipal court judge in Providence, Rhode Island, has built a reputation for his compassion and humanity in the courtroom. Through his show Caught in Providence, millions have watched him deliver justice with heart, reminding the world that behind every case is a person with a story.

This was one of those stories—a reminder that sometimes the greatest justice is simply choosing to lift someone up.