Paying fine before allowed to leave

My driver stopped at a Oklahoma weight station and was issued a citation for not having the current (2021) IFTA paperwork and UCR in the truck. We were told the fine had to be paid before he could leave. If he was issued a citation why would we have to pay the fine before he could leave? Wouldn't we have to go to court? I have the current IFTA but the "inspector" at the station said it wouldn't matter we still have to pay the fine before they would release my truck and driver? Is this correct/normal?

 

IFTA DECALS
You’re supposed to have a grace period as long as you were in good standing with the base state and filed for 2021 before 1/1/21.
@wichris @brian991219

 

You still gotta have paper license in the truck

 

Yes. I should have asked what the ticket was for since they mentioned ucr also.

 

Most likely you are not paying a fine. You are paying a bond to make sure you show up to court.

 

I know the paperwork is suppose to be in the truck, I'm not arguing that. It was my mistake for not making sure the driver had it. I am more concerned about why I had to pay right now before they would release the truck.

Isn't signing the citation a promise to appear?

 

In some jurisdictions yes. In some no. What I've seen normally is when the person refuses to sign the notice to appear they can do a bond instead. I don't know the criteria in OK and you should call the court that has jurisdiction over the citation.

 

If the deadline is extended why do you need the paperwork?

 

What deadline is extended?

 

I believe enforcement of UCR started 01/01/2021, I do not think there is a grace period for that.