My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: New York
I ran for a town council seat when I was eighteen and I had to form a political action committee with the state of New York in order to do so. By law, I have to submit financial disclosure forms every six months even if there isn't any action. I am now twenty, and when I was at school in January I accidentally missed the due date of my disclosure report by a few weeks. I just received a letter from the New York State Board of Elections letting me know I'm getting fined for $160 and if I don't pay within 90 days interest will begin to build.
My problem with this is that it is a complete violation of the fourteenth amendment, which gives me a right to due process before the state can claim any of my property. So I called the state BOE's office and I told them this and they told me there are no appeal forms, but I can write a letter if I want to be heard.
I'm not going to pay this fine yet and I'm trying to find the best way to defend myself in this letter. I'm thinking about explaining to them the facts: I was at school and all of the warning letters were sent to my home address. My parents respect my privacy and don't open my mail, so by the time I opened the warning letters it was three weeks late. I realize this doesn't justify being late, but I have less than $20.00 in my political action committee account - and I'm being fined for $160.00. I feel like this is unusual punishment, because this is a similar fine for someone excessively breaking the speed limit. I didn't put anyone in danger, and it's not like I didn't ever submit a disclosure report. I was just a few weeks late because I was at college.
EDIT: Also, I am terminating my committee and I'm going to include these forms with the letter.
Do you have any advice on how I can defend this in the letter I send? I'm a college student and I can't afford this penalty.

