Last month I got pulled over by a state trooper for having my car tag in my rear window and issued a ticket for operating an unregistered vehicle.The state trooper said he was not sure what was going on since I had good insurance,valid tag,title in my name,bill of sale and tag receipt but the computer showed my vehicle did not have a valid registration.So he gave me a warning for improper tag display and a ticket for invalid registration.After about 45 minutes of b.s.(I'm a correctional officer and was in uniform going home after work,he took my pistol and ran the serial number and returned it unloaded after giving me some grief about my having a pistol.I am a concealed carry permit holder.There is some antipathy towards corrections by the state troopers in the state of Georgia)
The next day I went to my county courthouse and had my registration activated.I talked with several officers that I know in the following weeks who were mystified by my ticket.I figured the ticket would not be expensive as my vehicle is a 93 Dodge Spirit and the tag is less than 20 dollars.So I called the courthouse in the neighboring county where the ticket was issued to inquire about the fine.I talked to a nice lady who informed me that the fine was seven hundred and five dollars--thats right 705 $.I told her "no offense ma'am the car is worth a grand tops the tag is less than 20 that is insane."
Well I cannot afford a ticket of that size.So I went back to the courthouse in my county and talked with the tax comissioner.A nice lady who spent an hour of her time researching my vehicles history. She came to the conclusion that when I purchased the vehicle last year and bought a tag and had the title transferred into my name that the clerk who did the transaction had neglected to change the registration into my name at that time.She then typed up a nice letter explaining that I had did all that was required of me and that her office had committed a clerical error resulting in the invalid registration.
This coming week I'll take that letter to the county where the ticket will be heard and attempt to talk to someone there and get the ticket dropped ,otherwise I'll have to wait til the 27th for my court date.Which means i'll have to keep 700 bucks in limbo in case the judge has a bad day and does not drop the fine instead of going ahead and paying bills with the money.
I am really amazed that the tax commissioner put it in writing that her office made a mistake.The lady has my vote in the next election.Her actions show how an elected official should act.
.
The next day I went to my county courthouse and had my registration activated.I talked with several officers that I know in the following weeks who were mystified by my ticket.I figured the ticket would not be expensive as my vehicle is a 93 Dodge Spirit and the tag is less than 20 dollars.So I called the courthouse in the neighboring county where the ticket was issued to inquire about the fine.I talked to a nice lady who informed me that the fine was seven hundred and five dollars--thats right 705 $.I told her "no offense ma'am the car is worth a grand tops the tag is less than 20 that is insane."
Well I cannot afford a ticket of that size.So I went back to the courthouse in my county and talked with the tax comissioner.A nice lady who spent an hour of her time researching my vehicles history. She came to the conclusion that when I purchased the vehicle last year and bought a tag and had the title transferred into my name that the clerk who did the transaction had neglected to change the registration into my name at that time.She then typed up a nice letter explaining that I had did all that was required of me and that her office had committed a clerical error resulting in the invalid registration.
This coming week I'll take that letter to the county where the ticket will be heard and attempt to talk to someone there and get the ticket dropped ,otherwise I'll have to wait til the 27th for my court date.Which means i'll have to keep 700 bucks in limbo in case the judge has a bad day and does not drop the fine instead of going ahead and paying bills with the money.
I am really amazed that the tax commissioner put it in writing that her office made a mistake.The lady has my vote in the next election.Her actions show how an elected official should act.
.
