How a Georgia Man Got a $1.4 Million Speeding Ticket
Connor Cato received the most expensive speeding ticket of his life for driving 90 mph on his way home in September, he says
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Talk about a shock.
A Georgia man was reeling after he was hit with a $1.4 million ticket for speeding in September. On Sept. 2, Connor Cato was driving home at 90 mph in a 55-mph zone in Chatham County when he was pulled over by Georgia State Patrol, he told WSAV.
When he saw the mind-boggling amount on the e-ticket —$1.4 million — he thought it must be a mistake.
“‘$1.4 million,’ the lady told me on the phone,” he told WSAV. “I said, ‘This might be a typo’ and she said, ‘No sir, you either pay the amount on the ticket or you come to court on Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m.'”
Savannah, it turns out, has a unique way of getting alleged speedsters to court.
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A spokesman for the City of Savannah explained in a statement to WSAV that, “The balance reflected in the e-citation is a placeholder, not a fine. The fine for a super-speeder ticket can only be set by a judge at the court appearance and cannot exceed $1,000 plus state mandated costs."
“Since super speeders are required to go to court, the software automatically puts in a $999,999.99 base amount plus state mandated costs," the statement continued. "Recorders Court is adjusting the language in e-citations in order to avoid future confusion.”
Criminal defense attorney Sneh Patel told WSAV that this is a new one, even for him.
“I have never seen something like this, ever,” he told WSAV. “I mean I can’t imagine someone would have to pay $1.4 million for not showing up for a speeding ticket.”
Cato could not immediately be reached for comment.
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