So far so good for the OP's GF but who knows how much sleep last been lost over this? Is it worth it?

Worse, down the down, who knows what/where last minute travel plans may involve visit to said "southern state" and then there will be other issues.

(Real story. Friend who was international student got speeding tickets in California. Didn't think that he would ever come back here after graduation so what the heck, blow it off. Nearly 10 years and a whole different life later, work required him to visit California 3 to 4 times a year. I did not get the blow by blow but he ended up hiring an attorney to clean up the mess.)

A discount is already a concession. Just pay it and move on.