Georgia Motorist Receives $1.4 Million Fine For Speeding

As violent criminals receive a slap on the wrist and rampant theft is being completely ignored in big cities across the nation, one infraction is apparently being taken extremely seriously by authorities in Savannah, Georgia.

According to reports, Connor Cato was caught speeding during his commute last month and a state trooper clocked him going 35 miles per hour over the speed limit. The bad news got considerably worse when he received a notification that his fine would be $1.4 million.  

Cato said that he phoned the court to inquire about the exorbitant charge and said that it must have been a mistake.

He recalled the clerk telling him: “No sir, you either pay the amount on the ticket or you come to court on Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m.”

While the individual who answered Cato’s call might not have been aware of the underlying issue, he later learned that the seven-figure fine was actually the result of a computer program that inserts a placeholder figure into citations issued to motorists traveling 35 mph or more over the speed limit. 

“We do not issue that placeholder as a threat to scare anybody into court, even if this person heard differently from somebody in our organization,” explained city spokesperson Joshua Peacock. “The programmers who designed the software used the largest number possible because super speeder tickets are a mandatory court appearance and do not have a fine amount attached to them when issued by police.”

Another statement from the city indicated that local officials are “currently working on adjusting” the way that the program, which Savannah has been using for six years, communicates the confusing placeholder amount.

In reality, the maximum fine is $1,000 plus court costs. 

The initial report of Cato’s citation elicited statements of disbelief from lawyers.

“I mean, I can’t imagine someone would have to pay $1.4 million for not showing up for a speeding ticket,” said defense attorney Sneh Patel, noting that such a high financial penalty is “something that goes into cases that are drug trafficking, murders or aggravated assaults, something of that nature.”