S
sgillespiesc
Guest
What is the name of your state? South Carolina
My wife received a speeding ticket in Oklahoma in December 2003. The officer told her that payment was due by the 1st of February 2004. However, the ticket showed payment due about a week earlier. We didn't notice this until that date had passed, so the fine was paid a few days late.
The Seminole County Clerk of Court sent a letter noting that payment was due with a late charge. I replied with a respectful letter noting the misunderstanding and asking if the late fee could be waived. I wrote that I assumed that if the money order for the fine amount was processed, the matter would be closed.
The money order was processed on January 27, 2004 and no additional communication followed. However, I just received a letter the week of 10-25-2004 saying a bench warrant was issued and would be recalled with payment of $45. The case number is referenced, but there is no explanation or acknowledgement of my previous letter.
I suppose I'll end up paying the fee, but I hate to do that when it was due to a miscommunication by the officer. Since I don't see how I can prove that, I figure it's at least worth checking a few things here:
1. Is this warrant valid given the prior communication and the long period that's passed since the original fine was paid?
2. Is there any recourse besides writing another letter to the Clerk of Court?
3. What happens if my wife is stopped in South Carolina and we haven't paid the balance? In the unlikely event that the balance was paid but not yet processed in Oklahoma and she is stopped, what should she do?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
My wife received a speeding ticket in Oklahoma in December 2003. The officer told her that payment was due by the 1st of February 2004. However, the ticket showed payment due about a week earlier. We didn't notice this until that date had passed, so the fine was paid a few days late.
The Seminole County Clerk of Court sent a letter noting that payment was due with a late charge. I replied with a respectful letter noting the misunderstanding and asking if the late fee could be waived. I wrote that I assumed that if the money order for the fine amount was processed, the matter would be closed.
The money order was processed on January 27, 2004 and no additional communication followed. However, I just received a letter the week of 10-25-2004 saying a bench warrant was issued and would be recalled with payment of $45. The case number is referenced, but there is no explanation or acknowledgement of my previous letter.
I suppose I'll end up paying the fee, but I hate to do that when it was due to a miscommunication by the officer. Since I don't see how I can prove that, I figure it's at least worth checking a few things here:
1. Is this warrant valid given the prior communication and the long period that's passed since the original fine was paid?
2. Is there any recourse besides writing another letter to the Clerk of Court?
3. What happens if my wife is stopped in South Carolina and we haven't paid the balance? In the unlikely event that the balance was paid but not yet processed in Oklahoma and she is stopped, what should she do?
Thanks in advance for any advice!