Man Almost Jailed Over A Penny

An Osceola County man thought he’d paid off a parking ticket, so he was surprised to find out Monday that the Orange County Clerk’s office had issued a warrant for his arrest.

Luis Gomez owed exactly one cent on a speeding ticket he received one year ago. Gomez tried to call the court to resolve the problem, and then tried to pay online, but had no luck.

“They won’t take a payment of a penny online,” said Gomez.

Gomez works at a school in Orange County and feared he would get arrested on campus in front of his students.

Eyewitness News contacted the clerk’s office on Gomez’s behalf and was told nobody would be arrested over a penny. When they were told the paperwork said otherwise, officials in the office said it must have been a mistake.

Gomez drove to the clerk’s office on Monday afternoon to pay and was asked if he needed a payment plan. When he said no, he paid the cent and left with a receipt.

The status of Gomez’s warrant was still unclear on Monday night and he was told to follow up with the office on Tuesday.

Not only did it cost Orange County more to notify Gomez about the issue than a penny, Gomez had to pay $6 to park when he went in to pay.

via Man Almost Jailed Over A Penny - News Story - WFTV Orlando.