Pull Over and Step From the Vehicle

Cop Who Ticketed Himself Reaps Praise -- KEWASKUM, Wis. - A police chief who ticketed himself for a traffic violation says that he has received congratulatory e-mails from all over the globe and that he has even turned down money to cover the fine.

Chief Dick Knoebel drove past a stopped school bus with its lights flashing in September, then wrote himself a ticket for $235 and docked himself four points on his driving record. The story surfaced after it showed up in court records and media reports.

"Police officers do good things everyday, and that doesn't get reported," said Knoebel, who has been chief for 20 years in this town northwest of Milwaukee. "All you hear about in the news is when a police officer is in trouble."

EXCUSE ME? Isn't this a story about a cop breaking the law? Isn't a $235 fine and four points on your license trouble? It would be for me. Just because he owned up to it does not mean he didn't break the law by blowing past a school bus while the kids were loading or unloading.

And just how far did he have to chase himself before he pulled over? Did he show himself his license and registration? Did he call in his tag number to see if he was driving a stolen car? Did he try to talk his way out of it? Did he maybe slip himself a $20 bill to make it all go away?

Did he resist? Did he throw himself to the ground and cuff himself? Did he have probable cause to search his own car? Did he make himself walk a straight line?

My guess is he smelled alcohol on his breath before all of this started. And THEN he did the right thing.

I wonder if he is going to act as his own lawyer or if he will appear for the prosecution? If the town is small enough, he could actually be the magistrate, too.

It sounds to me like this guy hit Escape Velocity all by himself.

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