Friday, October 09, 2009

Trooper won't be disciplined in Sanford traffic stop, and no ticket

State Department of Public Safety director Mark Keel said Thursday no disciplinary action will be taken against a state trooper who initially failed to write a speeding ticket for a SLED agent stopped while driving Gov. Mark Sanford on Tuesday.

The state trooper, Lance Cpl. R.S. Salter, later was given a verbal reminder of procedure by Keel after video of the traffic stop was viewed, Keel said during a Thursday news conference. The trooper failed to even write the driver a warning ticket documenting the stop as required by law.
And, belatedly, Salter also wrote the SLED agent, 43-year-old James Bernard Rawl, a speeding ticket Thursday morning, charging him four points on his driver's license and a $180 fine.

As in cases involving most drivers, a magistrate or other court officer could reduce the points and fine when the SLED agent appears in traffic court.
"Discretion is given to the officer whether to write a citation based on the circumstances," Keel said, adding that he did not think Salter's actions reflected badly on his agency's credibility.
Read on.

Update:
Department of Public Safety director Mark Keel reviewed the stop on I-385. He said that the agent driving Sanford will now be ticketed for speeding.


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