Georgia Driver Hit with $1.4 Million Fine for Speeding at 90 MPH in a 55 MPH Zone

  February 27, 2024    Buddieizreal

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 Georgia Driver Hit with $1.4 Million Fine for Speeding at 90 MPH in a 55 MPH Zone

A Georgia resident faced an astonishing $1.4 million ticket last month after being pulled over for speeding on a freeway. Connor Cato was driving through Savannah on September 2 when he was caught going 90 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone by the Georgia State Patrol.

Anticipating a 'super speeder' ticket due to exceeding the speed limit by 35 miles, Cato was surprised by the excessively high fine, far beyond the usual $1,000 maximum. Suspecting a mistake, he contacted the court, only to be informed that he must either pay the astronomical amount or appear in court on December 21 at 1:30 pm.

According to Cato, the court representative stated, '"$1.4 million," the lady told me on the phone. 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 December 21 at 1.30 pm."'

Later, Cato discovered that the exorbitant $1.4 million fine was merely a placeholder generated by e-citation software used by the local Recorder’s Court for 'super speeders.' The actual fine would be determined by a judge during Cato's mandatory court appearance.

Joshua Peacock, a spokesperson for Savannah’s city government, clarified that the intention was not to intimidate individuals into court. He explained, 'The programmers who designed the software used the largest number possible because super speeder tickets are a mandatory court appearance and do not have a fine amount attached to them when issued by police.'

Although the city has employed this system since 2017, they acknowledge the need to adjust the placeholder language to prevent confusion. Criminal defense attorney Sneh Patel expressed astonishment at the initial fine, stating that he had never encountered such a high amount for a misdemeanor traffic violation.

In Georgia, misdemeanor traffic violation fines cannot exceed $1,000, along with state-mandated costs. Patel emphasized that even for a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature, the fine would typically be $5,000. He added that bond amounts exceeding $5,000 are usually reserved for more serious offenses, such as drug trafficking, murder, aggravated assault, or for individuals expected to evade their upcoming court date.

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Alleged Shoplifter Ignites Confrontation by Setting Store Clerk Ablaze

  February 27, 2024    Buddieizreal

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Alleged Shoplifter Ignites Confrontation by Setting Store Clerk Ablaze 

A store employee, who made an attempt to thwart a man's third theft within a single day, found himself set ablaze during the encounter. Surveillance footage captured the disturbing moment when the assailant doused the worker with lighter fluid and ignited him.

The victim, identified only as Suraj for safety concerns, suffered second and third-degree burns on his face, neck, chest, and shoulder as a result of the attack. Speaking from his hospital bed, Suraj expressed the trauma he and his family are currently enduring.

"It's terrible. You know, I'm still in trauma right now, me, my family," he shared, highlighting the excruciating pain he endures during wound cleaning, describing it as "like over 10."

Having been a clerk at Appian Food and Liquor in El Sobrante for approximately five years, Suraj revealed that while dealing with shoplifters is not uncommon, an incident of this magnitude had never occurred before. On that fateful day, he and a coworker confronted a repeat offender who had stolen lighter fluid on multiple occasions. Suraj attempted to intervene, while his colleague grabbed a bat for protection.

"He just splashed lighter fluid on my face, and I was so scared at that moment," recounted Suraj. "I tried to cover his hand, but I don't know. I don't remember. He just lit the fire on me, you know. I just rushed to the restroom, and I just splashed water on my face."

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office apprehended the suspect, 38-year-old Kendall Burton, a homeless individual in El Sobrante. Burton faces charges including assault with a deadly weapon, battery, arson, and robbery, and is being held without bail.

Expressing the need for increased safety measures, Suraj emphasized, "First of all, I would like to say nobody has to go through this kind of situation, and the small stores should have more security or something like that. The workplace should be safer."

Suraj, anticipating several surgeries and a prolonged recovery, is supported by his wife, Sabeena Parajuli, who initiated an online fundraiser to alleviate the burden of medical bills. He shared that his family is deeply affected, noting, "They cry all the time when they come here."

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Florida House Approves Bill Restricting Social Media Access for Individuals Under 16

  February 24, 2024    Buddieizreal

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Florida House Approves Bill Restricting Social Media Access for Individuals Under 16 

The Florida House of Representatives has approved a bill that aims to prevent individuals under the age of 16 from holding accounts on certain social media platforms. The legislation, known as House Bill 1 or Online Protections for Minors, received a vote of 108-7 and will now be sent to Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, for potential approval.

If signed into law, HB1 will mandate certain social media platforms to verify the age of account holders. Additionally, it will prohibit individuals under 16 from creating new accounts and require the termination of accounts suspected to belong to underage users. The Senate had already passed the bill with a vote of 23-14 earlier on the same day.

Governor DeSantis, known for his stance on parental involvement, expressed his views on the matter during a press conference. He acknowledged the potential harm of excessive social media use but emphasized the importance of parental supervision. DeSantis is actively working to incorporate a role for parents in deciding whether their children should have access to social media, suggesting that parents should have the option to opt in if they want their kids on these platforms.

The bill broadly defines the social media platforms subject to its provisions. It encompasses companies where at least 10% of daily active users under 16 spend a minimum of two hours per day on the platform, and those utilizing algorithms, push alerts, continuous scrolling, or auto-play videos.

The legislation, introduced on January 5, faces an uncertain future, echoing the challenges seen in other states. A federal judge recently temporarily blocked a similar Ohio law, deeming it likely unconstitutional. The Ohio law aimed to regulate children's access to social media platforms, requiring parental consent for accounts created for those under 16. This legal setback underscores the complex landscape surrounding attempts to regulate social media for young individuals amid concerns about its impact on mental health.

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