State trooper ticketed for driving 130 mph

Boomer59 (anonymous) says...

Had this been me or you, we would have been placed under the jail... and be there still this morning.

April 3, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChasGuy71 (anonymous) says...

Boomer59...while it is possible that you or I would have been arrested for this offense we would have been allowed to pay the fine in full and be released, so we most likely would only have to spend a few hours in jail.

April 3, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

chuckiejeep (anonymous) says...

I know that car could have atleast gone 160!

April 3, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

whiskeyagogo (anonymous) says...

This is a pet peeve of mine. Cops speed all the time for no apparent reason. I intend to attempt a citizen's arrest one day.

April 3, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

amr83 (anonymous) says...

That still does not give him the right to speed. I seen a state trooper the other day going down 78 pull in the turning lane to pass someone I assume he felt was going to slow. No lights on.

April 3, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

I typically like to give cops a break because most of them try hard to do a difficult job and we do need them. There are bad apples everywhere, but I try no to let the few ruin the bunch. But it does seem there are a few boneheads that go overboard-130 in a 70 with no good reason is out there. Careful there whiskey-the ones you harass may come to YOUR aid one day...

April 3, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jadedncynical (anonymous) says...

For all the budding conspiracy theorists out there, it doesn't sound much like this guy caught a break. He's going to have to pay the fine and take the points if convicted, and he was suspended 3 days without pay -- not likely many of our employers would suspend us for speeding. Stupid mistake? No doubt. But it doesn't sound like he got any special treatment in the matter.

April 3, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

isharemyopinions (anonymous) says...

I see doing 130 as excessive. You are just putting your life at risk. Cops speed for many reason and reason that we all may not no about. And i don't judge them if i see someone fly past me. I mean when i want them at my house i want them there quick not slow. But nothing more that pisses me off is when they turn their lights on to cross an intersection and see them pull into a freaking fast food joint to grab some munchies

April 3, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Picky (anonymous) says...

Kudos! to the officer who has the integrity and courage to ticket McGaha.

April 3, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Speedy (anonymous) says...

Well, SC law actually permits law enforcement to speed under certain circumstances. One of those situations is when gathering evidence of another vehicle speeding. So, if a cop has to speed to catch up to you or to pace you, then yes he can speed.

Also, when you call 911, do you want the cop driving miss daisy, or would you prefer that he make haste and get to your emergency? Not every call justifies blue lights and a siren, but they will speed slightly to get to you faster.

If you get torqued about police speeding, when you call 911 next time, let the dispatcher know that you want the officer to obey all traffic laws and not to hurry.

April 3, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ForPnC (anonymous) says...

I've my share of speeding tickets but none in the past few years.

I see the police speeding all the time and don't complain one bit. Most times I fall in behind them.

Late for work is the lousiest excuse of all. Getting pulled over for speeding just makes you even later. I don't think this guy got a break but he probably got treated nicer than we would have.

p.s. NEVER speed on I-185 between Columbus and Atlanta. They're huge arseholes and are waiting for you.

April 3, 2009 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

whalernut (anonymous) says...

NO Excuses
130 would be instant death.
All to direct traffic?
He should be stuck on a desk.
There is no reason for anyone to drive that fast.
You know my father was a trooper in another state.
He never did stupid stuff like that.
And this trooper is a senior!
Put him at a desk he has lost it!

April 3, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jifdeng3 (anonymous) says...

Speedy, So what was the emergency? Late for directing traffic? Give me a break, that is no reason to go that fast and for that matter there is no reason to go 130 for any reason. The officer would have no time to react if something were to happen such as another motorist not seeing them or mis-estimating the speed of the officers vehicle. Many years ago when the HP used cameros I was going 80 up 26 to Columbia, well Im vigilant about situational awarness so Im always looking around not 8-10 seconds after checking my side view and not seeing anything a silver camero HP flew by me, must have been in the 150 range. Point? I DID NOT SEE THE CAR. There is no excuse for this, and IMO this officer or any who have such blantent disregard should see at least a two week suspension.

April 3, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mungojerrie (anonymous) says...

Speedy, of course we want the officers to respond quickly to 911 calls. We want them to respond quickly in an emergency situation. We do not want them to drive at lethal speeds because they're late for work.

If all of the circumstances were the same except rather than being pulled over, the officer hit a minivan with two kids inside of it, you'd be singing a different tune. That could have easily happened at that speed. It's only by sheer luck he did not kill someone or himself doing this.

April 3, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Missing_Home (anonymous) says...

I wonder why he wasn't arrested for reckless driving?
Doesn't it count as reckless for everyone driving 20 miles an hour or more over the posted limit?

And to SCHoser - - - When is the last time a state trooper did anything for you? They look sharp, drive sharp looking cars and 90% of the time issue tickets that will cost us money.

April 3, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

Missing Home-are you frikin serious? If you don't want tickets don't speed-simple. State Troopers do stuff all the time to help me and you. That is one of the dumbest questions I have seen in a long time. It's not THE dumbest, but it's close.

April 3, 2009 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Picky (anonymous) says...

The previous week an officer going over 90 mph with no lights or siren ran into a woman's car, killing her and injuring three others.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/...

April 3, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonguy81 (anonymous) says...

thats an excuse the wanted us to know that he was at least speeding when he actually was driving like a stock car driver more than 130 they wanted us to believe that YEA RIGHT

April 3, 2009 at 5:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

Awww, give the guy a break. He was just testing his gummint issued equipment to make sure it was fully functional.

April 3, 2009 at 6:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

greyman (anonymous) says...

He deserves to be fired. If he hit someone going that fast he would kill them. Then it would be off to jail for him. Getting poked in the you know what, and he would deserve it.

April 3, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Mon_Kie (anonymous) says...

He might have been going over the speed limit, but I'm sure he was driving safely.

April 3, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nighteyes (anonymous) says...

It seems that everyone has an opinion in this that is not a police officer and since I am, I am going to give mine...

There is absolutely NO excuse for the trooper mentioned above going that speed. Even if he was running late to an assignment or going to a call. If there was anything at all that got in his way or if he lost control, it would be catastrophic.

It's no secret- we (cops) drive fast. I have noticed that some of you have stated that you would rather us speed and get to your house than to drive casually from call to call.

Just as an example, in 2007, there were 123,505 residents in Dorchester County. On any given shift, you have approximately 15 Summerville Police Oficers and 13 Sheriff's Deputies on Duty. Smaller towns/municipalities normally have 1 or two officers on a shift. Now divide the 123,505 by 34 (15 SPD, 13 DCSO, and 6 other municipal officers) and see how many people each law enforcement officer has to protect...3,632 (3,633 if you round up). That's a lot of people and a lot of households. That's not to mention the non-citizens driving to and from work, shopping, or conducting business. Between accidents, calls, traffic enforcement, telephone calls, mental transports, traffic direction, escorts,reports, and all things law enforcement, that leaves a lot of people to tie up your time.
People do not take into consideration the magnitude of calls recieved by law enforcement and how few people there are to handle those calls. Yes....we haul butt. That's because we have to.
Also, we do not run lights and sirens to every call. If that was the case, all you would see were blue lights and sirens ALL DAY LONG.
Please cut law enforcement some slack. We try to do our best. You are right...there are some bad apples in the bunch that ruin it for the rest of us, but that is everywhere you go. Most of us only want to get to where you are to solve your problem.
Finally...from the point value and fine of the ticket issued, it looks as if he was in fact charged with reckless driving. I don't work for the Highway Patrol, but I would have to say that they would frown upon it. As for his suspension, a three day suspension is equivalent with a week off of work because of our schedule rotation.
Hope this sheds some light on the conversation...

April 3, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...

Ok. He was speeding. Is this really freakn newsworthy?

April 3, 2009 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )