Duncan speeding ticket causes controversy

Duncan's police chief said a misunderstanding led one of his former officers to refund a speeding fine paid by a former state legislator.

On Dec. 14, a Duncan police officer stopped Rita Allison and issued her a speeding ticket. Allison, a former S.C. state representative, is now the state's education director.

Allison said she mailed in her $76.88 fine, and about a week later a Duncan police officer came to her home with a refund check issued by the town of Duncan. She said the officer told her that his radar gun had not been working that day so she was entitled to a refund of her fine.

Allison said she accepted the refund and deposited it in her bank account.

"I took it all in good faith," she said.

She said she did not recognize the officer who had pulled her over.

"I don't even know his name," she said.

Duncan Police Chief Ryan Cothran said he found out about the matter earlier this week and after investigating he found the radar device had indeed been working the day Allison received her ticket.

The officer who wrote the ticket and issued the refund has since left the department to take another job, Cothran said.

Cothran said the town would issue refunds if a judge dismisses a case after the fine has been paid, as happened with Allison.

But he said the town does not make a practice of hand-delivering these refunds.

"I agree it is unusual," Cothran said. "That's not proper procedure."

Allison said Cothran has called her asking whether she would repay the original fine, and she agreed that she would.

Allison said she plans to mail in a money order Monday.

Both Allison and Cothran wonder why the issue has come up more than a month after Allison was cited for speeding.

"I got a ticket and I paid my ticket. Why this was made an issue, I don't know," Allison said.

Susan Orr can be reached at 877-3225, 574-5980 or susan.orr@shj.com.

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