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A bad surprise for a speeder from the US state of Georgia: on September 2, Connor C.* was fined a hefty $1.4 million by the city government of Savannah.
Instead of the permitted 90 km/h, the American drove 145 km/h at the beginning of September. Although he expected a high fine, he was almost shocked when the fine notice arrived, local broadcaster WSAV reported.
A placeholder worth millions
The man suspected a typo and called the authorities. No, it said, he had to pay the amount or appear in court on December 21. Incredulous attorney Sneh Patel told WSAV that fines in Georgia never exceed $1,000. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The shocked speeder then contacted the City of Savannah government. “The amount stated in the electronic summons is a placeholder, not a fine,” the authority responded, clarifying the bizarre case. The latter would only be determined by the judge on the hearing date. Anyone exceeding the speed limit by 56 km/h or more must appear in court. The system then automatically entered $999,999.99 plus processing fees as a placeholder. The maximum limit for a fine is actually $1,000.
The city government has already acknowledged that this practice can cause confusion and will adjust the electronic summons in the future. (SDA/a)
*Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
