A state senator stopped in Zebulon as part of a crackdown on speeders complained to town officials that the stop took too long.
Sen. Don Davis, a Democrat from Snow Hill, was stopped March 31 on U.S. 264 near N.C. 39 as part of a multi-agency traffic checkpoint, Johnny Whitfield reports.
Wendell police Officer Jermaine Thomas stopped Davis’s car at 9:21 a.m. Davis told him he was on his way to Raleigh to attend a legislative committee meeting.
According to Davis, Thomas returned to his police cruiser to issue the citation.
After waiting what he said was a sufficient amount of time for Thomas to write the ticket, Davis approached Thomas’ car and reminded him that he was on his way to a legislative meeting and needed to leave.
Davis told Thomas he wanted to speak to his supervisor. Thomas radioed for Zebulon police Lt. Bob Grossman to respond to the scene.
After Grossman arrived, he spoke with Davis. Thomas gave Davis his speeding ticket — he was cited for driving 84 m.p.h. in a 70-m.p.h. zone. — and Davis was released.
Reached by telephone Friday, Davis said he wondered if there were laws that would allow a member of the state legislature to avoid such traffic citations if they were engaged in public business. He said he addressed that question with Zebulon Town Manager Rick Hardin the afternoon after he got his speeding ticket.
Hardin confirmed that the senator stopped by town hall and voiced concerns about the length of time the traffic stop took.
Hardin referred Davis to police Chief Tim Hayworth.
"I kind of put it in his court," Hardin said. "It’s his issue and that’s where it should be."
As former House member Cary Allred knows, legislators have no special exemption from speeding tickets.
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On Monday, Davis said he had spoken with Zebulon Mayor Bob Matheny about his concerns. According to Davis, Matheny assured him that police had followed proper procedures during the stop.
Wendell police Chief Vance Johnson said the traffic stop took longer than it otherwise might have because Davis asked to speak to a supervisor. According to Johnson, the citation was issued five minutes after the stop occurred, but Thomas didn’t give Davis the citation until after he had spoken with Grossman.
The traffic checkpoint that snared Davis also brought citations against 35 other speeders. The effort was part of a statewide program through the Governor’s Highway Safety Program called Operation Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed, which netted nearly 16,000 speeding citations over a seven-day period between March 29 and April 4.
Davis, who represents Pitt, Greene and Wayne counties, said his primary concern was the delay in having the citation issued at a time when he was due in a legislative meeting.
"I just felt that it was a delayed kind of thing. It took a while to get the citation. The citation itself was fine. I felt I was waiting to the point that I felt like I needed to go follow up with the officer," Davis said.
Comments
Get over it
May 17, 2010 - 10:13am — TanyaEWhy do most articles in the news today have to bash someone. Don Davis is a good man. So he was speeding, and had to get to a meeting. Big deal. Leave it alone and worry about real issues in the world. Hunger, sickness and the lack of morals this society has.
Anyone else agree?
April 16, 2010 - 4:00pm — nick1717It's interesting that you will write an article like this on a democrat and not a republican. What about your pretty boy Jamie Earp, I wonder what he tried to do or said when he was pulled over and eventually convicted for a DWI while working on the Elizabeth Dole campaign?
Don't get me wrong, I think this guy is definitely at fault I just would like to see you point out both sides every once in a while.
exempt
April 15, 2010 - 10:58am — bestsarahMaybe Davis should introduce a bill making the lawmakers above the laws that ordinary folk have to obey. These legislators are really important people and need to zip on by us when we are out on the roads.
If we keep these Democratic legislators tied up in traffic then they will not be able to enact more spending bills and tax increases.
Could law enforcement hold them up more often?
If we keep them on the side of the road long enough we might get out of this financial mess.
Waaaaaaaaaa, Waaaaaaaaaa, Waaaaaaaaaaa
April 15, 2010 - 9:06am — jimmy007Need I say more?
84 in a 70
April 14, 2010 - 5:08am — bestsarahGood job by law enforcement. Glad the officer did not get bullied out of issuing a well deserved ticket! Typical of those who think they are above the law. I guess some think that being a legislator puts you above the laws. Let's have a parade for the officer.
But I am glad the ship of state did not stop sailing while Davis was stopped for 84 in a 70. Hopefully Davis will learn to set the example for his constituents rather than teach them that it's fine to disregard the law if you are in a hurry.
Hope Davis has some competition in the upcoming election.
How Far Does Entitlement Go?
April 13, 2010 - 9:47pm — snowhilldemocratNot surprising for Davis to expect such an exemption for members of the State Legislature much less to even utter such comments publicly. Prior to going to Raleigh, Davis served as Mayor of Snow Hill, a small eastern NC town, that he left in total financial havoc. During his tenure he lowered tax rates, failed to increase water rates to meet alternative water funding requirements, created administrative positions that had never existed and pursued as his pet project renovation of a privately owned community center with more than $200,000.00 of state PARTF grant money as well as committing Snow Hill to more than $200,000.00 matching funds. Essentially more than one-half of Snow Hill's matching portion was from CDBG funds for revitalization. Currently, the Town of Snow Hill is financially struggling and Davis' hand selected finance officer by contract has been terminted because no accurate financial reports have been given in months (since mid 2009) - to include the new finance officer having to verify each transaction because the general ledger and bank statements don't match (let me not forget to mention the $1200.00 contribution the previous contracted finance officer made to his Senate Campaign). In addition, his pet project is secured by a lease between the town and non-profit corporation and the said corporation is not the owning non-profit corporation on the recorded deed. The project is out of money, yet to be completed, and the town is left liable to complete and potentially have to repay the state PARTF grant if funding or modifications to state contracts are not made. The community center project coupled with his failure to adjust rates for alternative water requirments has resulted in the general fund being depleted to a point where the Local Government Commission has been to visit Snow Hill and the general fund dropped below the required 8% minimum. During Davis' tenure as Mayor the annual audit was repeatedly late and LGC issued communications on that subject. The new mayor, elected in November, and new board members elected in November, have now spent their entire tenure focused on the mess of Davis and previous administrations. So his timely attendance in Raleigh may produce more financial devastation than elevation based upon his record as an elected official in Snow Hill. In addition, Davis has not spoken about the town's financial crisis and how such a situation arrived. The hand picked Town Administrator in the Davis created position has also not released public records requested by concerned citizens relating to the community center project that is some $90,000.00 over budget without being completed thus far. So, a ticket for 84 mph in a 70 mph zone is not near as fast as the ride he took the Town of Snow Hill and its citizens for!!
???????
April 13, 2010 - 7:33pm — cadacon1You have got to be kidding me, exempt?? That's the problem in today's world. How in the world would he think he'd be exempt from speeding? Why are we not demanding his resignation from his position? How would he even begin to think that his fellow legislators would consider a law that exempts them from prosecution of ANY crime. Cripes........Who elected this guy and where is the "internal policing branch" of the legislature on this? If I were the charging officer, I would, at the least, demand an apology from this arrogant politician.
Lucky for Officer Thomas...
April 13, 2010 - 11:52am — PoliticalJunkie...that he isn't a Highway Patrolman.
Davis might have had his badge.
Slow down
April 13, 2010 - 10:34am — kgbuncPerhaps the good senator will learn from this and give himself more time to get to his meetings in the future.