A protester who dangled for hours from the Tappan Zee Bridge has been sentenced to nine months behind bars.

Michael Davitt of Garnerville had been convicted of reckless endangerment. He was sent straight to the Westchester County Jail on Tuesday.

On Nov. 7, 2011, Davitt anchored a rope ladder to his van, dropped it over the side of the bridge and stepped down to about 65 feet over the Hudson River. Eastbound traffic on the state Thruway came to a standstill.

When police started lowering him to waiting boats, he dove off and tried to swim away before being captured.

He said he was protesting being fired from a Rockland County drug counseling job.

A hearing to determine what Davitt owes in restitution is scheduled for October.

(AP)