$1.4 million speeding ticket shocks Ga. man

A Georgia man got the shock of his life when received a $1.4 million speeding ticket. Fortunately for him, the figure was just a placeholder.

Connor Cato told Savannah-based WSAV-TV that the Georgia State Patrol pulled him over for driving 90 mph in a 55-mph zone on Sept. 2.

Though Cato was expecting to get a “super speeder” ticket, never in his wildest dreams did he think it would be for more than $1 million.

When he called the court thinking the figure was a typo, he was told he should either pay the fine or appear in court in December.

“‘One-point-four million dollars,’ the lady told me on the phone,” Cato told the station. “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 city government spokesman Joshua Peacock told USA TODAY on Monday that Cato’s fine was just a placeholder.

“A speeding ticket can only be set by a judge in a court appearance and cannot exceed $1,000 plus state-mandated cost,” he said.

While Cato still has to appear in court and is considered a “super speeder,” he will not have to pay a $1.4 million fine.

Under Savannah law, “super speeders” are anyone caught driving more than 35 mph above the speed limit. Super speeders have to appear in court, where a judge will determine the fine.

Peacock explained that because super speeders are required to go to court, the e-citation software automatically puts in a $999,999 base amount plus state-mandated costs. That came to $1.4 million for Cato.

The court is adjusting the placeholder language to avoid any future confusion, Peacock said.

“The city did not implement the placeholder amount in order to force or scare people into court,” the City of Savannah said to WSAV-TV.