Grandmother Faces Jail Over Decade-Old Ticket She Paid

A North Texas woman is being threatened with jail time for a 10-year-old speeding ticket that she says she paid years ago.

Kathy Pipes admits she was driving too fast.

“I was speeding, no doubt about it,” said the 60-year-old Denton grandmother.

But she paid the Arlington speeding ticket, and remembers all too well taking an online defensive driving course.

“It was a pain,” said Pipes.

That was 10 years ago.

So imagine her surprise when she got a letter in the mail Thursday, telling her that not only does she owe $180.70 for not taking the course, but that there’s also a warrant for her arrest.

“Come on, 10 years? I have no receipts, I have no proof,” said Pipes. “It’s their word against mine.”

The letter came from the Austin law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, used by Arlington and many other cities to collect delinquent fines.

“I don’t think I should have to pay the fine,” said Pipes. “I don’t see why they waited 10 years.”

But now the Denton woman is hard-pressed to prove she did take the driving course and plans to surrender for the warrant to prove a point.

“It's going to cost them more to put me in jail, feed me, so it’s OK,” said Pipes. "My mama always said you stand up for what’s right, and I’m standing up for what’s right.”

The law firm offered this statement about the case, pointing out that Kathy Pipes was legally Mary Kathryn Hood at the tiem of the incident and has since married:

"Ms. Hood received a citation for Speeding on December 27, 2005.  She entered an appearance on or about on January 10, 2006 and elected the option of completing a drivers safety course for possible dismissal of the charge.  She paid the $103 fee, and presented proof of her driver’s license and insurance. A  Request for Driving Safety form was signed by Ms. Hood, and a copy was personally delivered to her on January 10, 2006.  The form included the April 10, 2006 due date for her DSC certificate and certified driving record.  Ms. Hood did not provide the required proof by that date.  The Court sent a Show Cause Notice to Ms. Hood at the Kennedale address shown on her driver’s license and insurance card on June 30, 2008.  The letter was returned by the post office.  The Show Cause docket was held on August 22, 2008, and Judge Maddock noted her failure to appear for court.   She was found guilty and a warrant could have been issued anytime after that date.  An arrest warrant was issued in 2014.  The judgment was generated showing the date she was found guilty.    The initial amount of the citation was $167.00.  Ms. Hood paid the $103 costs and administrative fee to complete DSC in January.  The balance when judgment was entered was $64.  After the case went to warrant, warrant and collection fees were added.  The current total owed is $180.70."

Arlington police say they will try to help.

Pipes plans to call them Friday morning but is making plans to surrender to police on Monday.