Audit: Town Of Bernice Overcharged Residents Thousands Of Dollars In Fines

A state audit of the town of Bernice lists a slew of problems facing the small Delaware County community.

Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones says the audit found the town over-collected approximately $106,308 in fines because it failed to properly publish its ordinances.

Read the audit report

Bernice has long been known for its good fishing holes. Though it's now being recognized for alleged corruption.

"It's embarrassing to have what's gone on here go public," Bernice resident Steve Miller said "But it had to go public because there is a law."

Steve Miller is an engineer by trade. But he's spent the past two years learning the ins and outs of Oklahoma law.

Miller initiated a citizen's petition that prompted a state audit on the Town of Bernice.

"I took that big document, that 70 page document, it was a 10 page letter with exhibits like A through O and everything was copied: tickets, fine schedules, letters from attorneys and sent it to the state auditors," Miller said.

The auditor spent about a year investigating in Bernice before releasing a 53 page report showing multiple infractions.

First on the list: the way the city handled its collection of court fines and fees, including hundreds of speeding tickets.

The report shows between July 2008 and June 2011 the court over-collected more than $106,000 in fines and an additional $8,000 court costs.

Miller says this news will likely make drivers even more wary of driving through his town.

"It's a huge impact on our image," Miller said. "We have people coming through from Tulsa all the time - you hit the Vinita exit, go to Grove, you go right through Bernice."

But the list goes on. The state audit cites the town for not complying with the Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act. More than 10 other violations are listed in the report.

"There's no excuse for it," Miller said. "I mean the laws are established they're on the books, so yes the idea here is to hopefully spare anybody what we've been through."

Calls to the city mayor and attorney went unreturned. There will be a special town meeting April 25, 2012, to discuss the finding of the audit.

As for the thousands of dollars that was over-collected, the State Auditor has recommended the town figure out how best to reimburse that money.