Burning Man Sues Over Fee Tripling

The operators of Burning Man, which begins next week, are suing their Nevada county hosts who have tripled their charge to provide police protection for the event.

Though this year's event, which runs Aug. 27 to Sept. 3, will not be affected, the 2013 festival is in jeopardy after Pershing County allegedly hiked the fees from $154,000 in 2011 to $448,000 this year. Defendants have acted not out of a neutral and objective concern for public safety issues, but because of their opposition to what they consider to be the content and culture of Burning Man, in violation of the First Amendment," the lawsuit states. Black Rock City has held Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert of Pershing County, Nev., since 1991. According to its website, the experimental arts event - which runs on a "free market" system and bans advertising - draws more than 50,000 people each year.

Burning Man has sold out for the last two years. Tickets ran from $240 - $420 depending on the date of purchase.