[lothar56]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pb...001&lead=1

Instead of ticketing a Des Moines police officer who appeared to have been drinking and was clocked driving 99 mph on the freeway in a city-owned vehicle, West Des Moines police called one of the officer's supervisors to come and pick him up. No tests for alcohol consumption were given.

I wish when I got pulled over going 96 in a 55 completely sober the officer would have called my parents instead of the $123 ticket and 8 month loss of license. I'm just lucky this happened before the rates increased, $312 is a lot more!

[Dakar]

<singing>Lothar, of the Hill Peo-ple</singing>

[Oneota]

Honestly, what bothers me more is that I-235 is 55 MPH instead of 65. It's been expanded to 3 lanes in both directions (or is in the process of being upgraded), the lanes are in great condition, and everyone goes 70 anyway, so they should really up the speed limit.

But yeah, this is just a case of the police looking out for their own. A police officer will tend to know the law on blood-alchohol limits, and will usually know what their own body can handle without being over those limits. It's possible that this guy was showing outward signs of consumption (bloodshot eyes 'n whatnot), but was still okay to be driving. The fact that he was speeding isn't necessarily and indicator that he was too drunk to drive. Without more information, I think it's dangerous to start pointing fingers and yelling conspiracy. Just my opinion, though. It's entirely possible that the guy was waaaay too drunk and the officer who pulled him over just didn't want to deal with arresting someone driving a city-owned vehicle.

[Dork.]

This guy did not "get off" at all. It's mentioned in the article that there were immediate consequences for the officer, including suspension and getting his cop car taken away. It's entirely likely that this will affect him for the rest of his career, more so than if the ticket had been written. Which is entirely appropriate, as people who are supposed to enforce the law shouldn't be breaking it.

There are lots of opportunities for people to plead down speeding tickets in the court system, after all. Just because his license could have been suspended if the ticket had been written doesn't mean that was the guaranteed outcome.

[lothar56]

He lost $430 in pay, as opposed to the ~$4000 (source: Register commentary article, good read) had he been citied for OWI, which I'm not saying he would have been, but we'll never know. And where is it written that if he receives a ticket he should get no more punishment? I agree that as a law enforcement officer he should be held to a higher standard, so he should have received standard treatments (ticket, no license, etc.) + consequences at work, not one or the other.

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by lothar56

He lost $430 in pay, as opposed to the ~$4000 (source: Register commentary article, good read) had he been citied for OWI, which I'm not saying he would have been, but we'll never know. And where is it written that if he receives a ticket he should get no more punishment? I agree that as a law enforcement officer he should be held to a higher standard, so he should have received standard treatments (ticket, no license, etc.) + consequences at work, not one or the other.

Get a good laywer, and you can reduce any penalty, especially if you're a first-time offender. Plus, at least in New York State where I'm from, there are loads of opportunities to plead down without paying for a lawyer. Local courts basically run traffic court for the income.

My only ticket came where the speed limit went from 55 to 30 abruptly, and I missed the sign. I was cited for 30+ over the limit. I was offered the opportunity to plead down to 14 over just for showing up to court. I still paid a fine, but the effect on my insurance (which is where the real hit to your wallet is) was minimal, since 15 is the cutoff for Really Bad Things. the town was happy, and I was happy!

He probably should have gotten a ticket, but I still think that the damage to his career will far outweigh any penalty the local court system could dish out.

[lothar56]

But if they would have just slapped a ticket on him, even if they marked it down to 30 over or so, they could have avioded most of that.