(FixThisNation.com) – A Georgia resident was taken aback when he received what appeared to be an astronomical $1.4 million speeding ticket. However, city officials have since clarified that this seemingly outrageous figure was nothing more than a temporary placeholder, rather than the actual fine he was expected to pay.
Connor Cato shared his perplexing encounter with WSAV-TV in Savannah, recounting the events that transpired after he was pulled over in September for driving at a speed of 90 mph in a 55 mph zone. Initially, Cato suspected that the citation contained a typographical error, prompting him to reach out to the court for clarification. Much to his surprise, he was informed that he had two choices: pay the mind-boggling amount or appear in court, with the hearing scheduled for December.
Savannah authorities have established a policy that requires individuals caught driving more than 35 mph above the posted speed limit to make a court appearance. During this hearing, a judge assesses the situation and determines the appropriate fine. In Cato’s case, the figure displayed on his citation was revealed to be nothing more than a “placeholder,” automatically generated by the e-citation software utilized by the local Recorder’s Court.
Joshua Peacock, a spokesperson for the city of Savannah, clarified that the actual fine an individual can face in such cases cannot exceed $1,000, in addition to any state-mandated costs. Importantly, Peacock emphasized that the intention behind using a placeholder figure was not to intimidate or scare individuals into attending court. Nevertheless, there might have been some confusion or misinformation within the organization.
To address this issue and prevent similar misunderstandings in the future, Peacock announced that the Recorder’s Court is currently working on adjusting the placeholder language. By doing so, they aim to ensure that citizens like Connor Cato are not unduly alarmed by what they perceive as outrageous fines and are aware of their actual legal obligations when it comes to speeding violations.
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