14 DAY TRIAL // A traffic patrol trooper has lost his job for going easy on Florida Representative Charles McBurney, by refusing to issue a ticket for a speeding incident.
According to The Blaze, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Charles Swindle caught he legislator on the I-10 near Madison when he was driving at 87 mph (140 kph), while the speed limitation in the area was 70 mph (112 kph).
Swindle issued a $10 (€7.8) ticket and, after asking his superior, told McBurney that he would “cut him a break” from paying the required $280 (€218) fine. The ticket was given out for his failing to carry insurance documentation.
Miami Herald detailed that his sergeant approved letting the lawmaker off with a warning.
“I’m going to write [McBurney] a warning and be nice; I’m going to stroke him ’cause I didn’t see his insurance card. I’ll give him that ticket, warning for speed,” Swindle told the sergeant.
“We ain’t gettin’ no pay raises anyways,” Sgt. Gary Dawson allegedly responded.
McBurney claimed that he was only driving at 75 mph (120 kph) although a radar gun picked up a different speed, adding that he did have said proof of insurance on him but was never prompted for it.
“I am concerned that as Trooper Swindle acted in such fashion to me, that he would do so to any law-abiding citizen of our state,” he complained to the officer's superior, chief of highway patrol David Brierton.
The trooper has been terminated after an inquiry revealed that he “displayed poor judgment and circumvented the legal process.”
“The FHP can’t have it both ways, with a policy of discretion to cut breaks to legislators who are speeding and then turn around and fire them,” the trooper's attorney, Sidney Matthew, argues.
However, other lawmakers in the state recall being cited for traffic violations, some more than once. Bryan Nelson, R-Apopka and Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville have both been fined twice.
“If there was any preferential treatment, I certainly did not receive it. [...] In fact, I don’t think that FHP liked the Legislature very much because the guy took pleasure in giving me a ticket,” Former Rep. For Miami, J.C. Planas notes.