PA Governor shows reckless disregard for the law

[mugs]

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Motorists would be wise to make VROOM for guv

By NICOLE WEISENSEE EGAN

weisenn@phillynews.com


STATE TROOPERS on the Pennsylvania Turnpike have clocked Gov. Rendell's Cadillac limo at more than 100 mph at least nine times since November, according to sources.

Turnpike cops running radar say they've repeatedly caught the governor's limo cruising at the extraordinary speeds in the left lane, with its emergency lights flashing and siren wailing to shoo other motorists out of the way, the sources said.

Rendell's state-owned Cadillac DeVille DHS is driven by state troopers assigned to his security detail. Turnpike cops have never ticketed the governor's drivers.

Sources said a turnpike trooper clocking traffic with a window-mounted radar unit first reported Rendell's zooming Cadillac in November. After the radar registered the Caddy's speed in the triple digits, the turnpike trooper gave chase, according to the sources.

The chase quickly ended when Rendell's driver picked up the limo's police radio and broadcast, "This is Executive One," the sources said.

Troopers running radar clocked the Caddy at triple-digit speeds eight more times, according to sources.

Now that the turnpike troopers recognize the car, they no longer give chase.

"They don't want to know," one source said.

The turnpike cops worry what would happen if the governor's car crashes at high speed, the sources said.

"It's just outright dangerous," one source said. "It only takes someone else to do something stupid, and it's going to cause a very severe accident. There's no reason they need to be zooming up the road in triple digits with the lights flashing. I don't care who you are. It's against the law. This is just transporting the governor to and from Philly. There is no emergency."

The state troopers who work for the governor's executive detail insist that their boss, who usually sits in the front passenger seat, orders them to drive fast, sources said.

High-ranking state police officials are aware of the speeding and have decided to take no action, sources said. Several state police officials declined to comment and referred comments to Rendell's press office.

Rendell declined to be interviewed for this story. His spokeswoman, Kate Philips, denied that the governor orders his drivers to go fast.

"The governor would never ask someone to break the law," she said, adding that Rendell has no idea how fast his car is going.

"He's typically working in the car or on the phone or reading and writing, and he doesn't pay attention to the speedometer," Philips said. "It's not his job. But he does depend on the troopers to get him to and from where he needs to go safely and on time, and they do a stellar job. He's confident and secure in his passenger seat."

Rendell always wears his seat belt, she said. The governor has a fleet of cars, two airplanes and a bus at his disposal for travel, she said.

The speed limit on rural sections of the turnpike is 65 mph. Under the state's motor vehicle code, emergency lights and sirens are to be used by cops, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in enforcement of the law only during an emergency or in the interest of public safety. Civilian drivers are allowed to travel in the left lane only for two miles at a time.

Samuel Walker, author of 11 books on policing, criminal-justice history and policy, and civil liberties, said the speeding reports indicate the governor thinks he's above the law.

"He's saying, 'The laws don't apply to me' and that's wrong," Walker said. "The governor shouldn't do that. All of our elected officials should set an example for obeying the law, especially if it's something that's endangering people's safety.

"His conduct sets a particularly bad example in the context of all the recent problems surrounding the state patrol," Walker added, referring to the sex-misconduct scandal that has plagued the state police since last summer.

Jim Baxter, president of the National Motorists Association, also took issue with Rendell's behavior.

"He's asking those people to violate the law so there should be some consequence for that, as there would be for anyone else," Baxter said.

Steve Oesch, senior vice president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said high speed contributes to severe injuries and fatalities in car crashes.

"It is well-known that speeding increases both the frequency, as well as the severity of crashes," he said.

"At these higher speeds it's going to be very difficult for the vehicle structure to hold up and for the airbag and the seat belts to provide protection," he said. "That's for the vehicle traveling at that speed, as well as any vehicle that gets struck by that speeding vehicle."

Rendell enjoys a reputation for chronic lateness and traveling fast.

In May 2002, during the campaign for governor, Daily News columnist John M. Baer was in Rendell's car as the candidate urged his driver to 105 mph on the turnpike.

When he was Philadelphia's mayor, Rendell was notorious for pressuring his drivers to get him to appointments on time.

"He was always yelling to his driver, 'Go! Go! Go!,' " said one person who frequently rode with the ex-mayor but who didn't want to be identified. "He was always in a frantic rush to get somewhere quick because he's always running late."

On the evening of Dec. 22, 1998, Rendell, late as usual, was on his way to a funeral for a city worker when his car rammed a 1990 Nissan at Henry Avenue and Port Royal Street in Roxborough, police said.

Rendell's driver, Joseph Rimato, ran a red light on Henry Avenue and hit the other car, a witness told police. Rimato said he had been using the emergency lights and siren, and had paused at the red light before entering the intersection, according to city records.

Kathleen Blum, a passenger in the Nissan, told police that Rendell hopped out of his car and told them, "This is my fault. This is my driver. We'll take care of you," police said.

Blum, then 18, injured her right knee in the accident. The driver, then-18-year-old Monica Borthwick, hurt her neck, back and knee, according to city records. Rendell had minor injuries from his car's airbag.

Blum and Borthwick sued the city. The city settled the case before trial for $131,000 in January 2002. City solicitors noted in the settlement recommendation that, under state law, lights and sirens are supposed to be used only for emergencies and that going to a funeral is not considered an emergency.

Rendell isn't the only public official who has been caught speeding.

In a November report, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety chastised politicians for their cavalier attitude about speeding.

"With little or no stigma attached to this particular brand of law-breaking, even image-conscious politicians joke about their lead-footed tendencies," the report said.

The most notorious example in recent years is former Congressman Bill Janklow of South Dakota. Janklow collected 12 speeding tickets during a four-year period in the 1990s. When a police officer gave him a warning instead of a ticket for speeding in June 2003, he thanked the "polite gentleman who cut me a little bit of slack," the report said.

Two months later, Janklow ran a stop sign at 71 mph and killed a motorcyclist. He reportedly told a trooper he had seen the sign, but had been going too fast to stop. He was convicted of felony manslaughter and reckless driving and resigned from office in January. He began serving a 100-day sentence in jail in February while he appeals his convictions.

Pennsylvania's penalty for driving at high speed can be severe. Philadelphia defense attorney Charles Peruto Jr., who frequently defends traffic violators, said motorists caught exceeding the speed limit by 40 mph can lose their license, even for a first offense.

 

[djNickb]

Is this really so surprising? A person in power abusing their power? No, never, not in America

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: djNickb
Is this really so surprising? A person in power abusing their power? No, never, not in America

Is there a country on the planet where human nature is different? Why single out America for that comment when examples abound world wide of politicians abusing their power?

 

[DrNoobie]

If he ever ends up in a hospital I'm working at, I'm going to look the other way. Well, not really, but damn I sure would want to.

 

[Jzero]

Let's face it you have to work fast to get from Harrisburg to S. Philly and back for a cheesesteak lunch.

I would almost be apalled, but having driven these same roads for some years now, I can say confidently that if Gov. Rendell was only going 100 in the left lane, he was probably being passed on the right!

 

[GasX]

I am against wasting my tax dollars on crap like welfare for crack whores and medicaid for the terminally lazy, but I'd be all for funding a supercharger and NAWSSSSSSSSSSSS upgrade for that vehicle. At least one of us would get to open it up on the highway.

In fact, I am moving back to PA and running for Govenor on the free rides for ATOTers platform...

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: djNickb
Is this really so surprising? A person in power abusing their power? No, never, not in America

yeah since we know that people in power in other countries never abuse their power.

 

[Mill]

I need to become governor of that state.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

I will add that to my platform!

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I am against wasting my tax dollars on crap like welfare for crack whores and medicaid for the terminally lazy, but I'd be all for funding a supercharger and NAWSSSSSSSSSSSS upgrade for that vehicle. At least one of us would get to open it up on the highway.

In fact, I am moving back to PA and running for Govenor on the free rides for ATOTers platform...

You got my vote!

Oh, you mean I have to LIVE in that crappy state to vote?

/*goes back to asking Ahnold for rides in his Hummer

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

Still have those damn Sunday blue laws?

 

[djNickb]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: djNickb
Is this really so surprising? A person in power abusing their power? [sarcasm]No, never, not in America

[/sarcasm]

yeah since we know that people in power in other countries never abuse their power.

Sorry I should have turned on my sarcasm indicator as I meant exactly that. People in power [disclaimer] more often than not tend to abuse that power [/discalimer]

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

Still have those damn Sunday blue laws?

No, it's really weird. I remember when we were up in Butler we had to go to this warehouse place to even buy hard alcohol. I think they're state run.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Let's face it you have to work fast to get from Harrisburg to S. Philly and back for a cheesesteak lunch.

I would almost be apalled, but having driven these same roads for some years now, I can say confidently that if Gov. Rendell was only going 100 in the left lane, he was probably being passed on the right!

Where, on 70/76? Every time I drive there I see so many cops it's not even worth it to speed! (Well, not too much, anyway).

 

[Kipper]

So it's the DRIVERS who are breaking the law, not necessarily the governor...

It's dumb, yes. But that's politics.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

Still have those damn Sunday blue laws?

No, all liquor sales are controlled (and taxed heavily) by the state liquor control board. You can't buy anything less than a case at a distributor. You can go to a bar/restaurant and pay out the butt for a six-pack.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

Still have those damn Sunday blue laws?

No, it's really weird. I remember when we were up in Butler we had to go to this warehouse place to even buy hard alcohol. I think they're state run.

We've got State Run package stores too and they control all hard liquor. We have non-state package stores, but they have to buy their liquor from the state, so that means their prices are always higher than the state run stores. Normally 10-15 more. Really crazy stuff.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Mill
I need to become governor of that state.

Only if you pledge to fix the liquor laws!

Still have those damn Sunday blue laws?

Yep, and the "Ministry Of Vice" (Liquor Control Board).

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS

Originally posted by: Jzero
Let's face it you have to work fast to get from Harrisburg to S. Philly and back for a cheesesteak lunch.

I would almost be apalled, but having driven these same roads for some years now, I can say confidently that if Gov. Rendell was only going 100 in the left lane, he was probably being passed on the right!

Where, on 70/76? Every time I drive there I see so many cops it's not even worth it to speed! (Well, not too much, anyway).

On 76 between Philly and Valley Forge, I rarely see cops, and the "flow" of traffic is usually at least 75MPH in the right lane, except in high traffic areas. The turnpike usually moves at a good clip, too.

 

[mwtgg]

"I am not aware of any instance of my executive detail being cited for driving at unlawfully high rates of speed. I depend on my detail to drive me to and from my many appointments each day in a safe and timely manner, and they serve me well."

Amazing.. if you're in a car, you can't feel how fast you're going? Especially if you're going 100+ MPH.

OK.

1) The news says he ordered the cop to speed.
2) He has the cop drive with his sirens blazing (illegal) to get cars out of the way.
3) He's an idiot

BTW, I live in Pennsylvania (just outside of Philadelphia), and he is a moron with sticky fingers. I hope his Cadillac hits a tree and only he gets hurt. That'll serve him.

Oh, and wtf is with the cop driving the car? Why would he agree to speed?

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: AvesPKS

Originally posted by: Jzero
Let's face it you have to work fast to get from Harrisburg to S. Philly and back for a cheesesteak lunch.

I would almost be apalled, but having driven these same roads for some years now, I can say confidently that if Gov. Rendell was only going 100 in the left lane, he was probably being passed on the right!

Where, on 70/76? Every time I drive there I see so many cops it's not even worth it to speed! (Well, not too much, anyway).

On 76 between Philly and Valley Forge, I rarely see cops, and the "flow" of traffic is usually at least 75MPH in the right lane, except in high traffic areas. The turnpike usually moves at a good clip, too.

Yeah, turnpike speeds down there are usually well over the 65mph posted... 75 in the slow lane, up to about 90ish (guessing) in the fast lane, with idiots occasionally going faster than that. Over 100 is wayy too dangerous for that stretch though.