The contest was conducted with outdated rules, some entry forms were ignored in the final tally while others were lost, and managers used different procedures for handing out first and second place prizes.

On the other hand, personnel at Jacksonville TV station WAWS at least tried to fix the mess that was their "Win a Hot Rod for Dad" contest. So the FCC has proposed their lowest possible fine for the debacle: four thousand dollars.

Clear Channel's Fox-30 WAWS sponsors various contests, from picking NASCAR winners to choosing the Teacher of the Month. In June of 2004 the station told viewers to fill out forms at any one of 15 Dodge dealerships in and around Jacksonville to be eligible for the first place prize, a Dodge car, or 15 second place prizes, tickets to a local theme park.

But one contestant filed a complaint with the FCC after discovering that contest managers had only included one of the 21 entries he had submitted for the Dodge. According to the FCC, Clear Channel says WAWS used older rules that excluded multiple entries, but did not let contestants know about the restriction.

The FCC inquiry also discovered that the station only picked up entry forms from nine of the 15 Dodge dealerships advertised as contest locations. Some entries were lost in the transition. At the June 19 drawing, the station selected entries until they found a first prize car winner, but did not do the same for the theme park prizes.

After some protests, WAWS arranged a second drawing, to which the complainant, a winner, did not show up.

The FCC says they're going easy on the station.

"Although Clear Channel apparently violated our rules, it took reasonably prompt remedial action prior to learning of our investigation," their April 19th Notice of Apparently Liability, concludes. "As such, the base forfeiture amount for this apparent misconduct is most appropriate."