Take that Trooper McGaha! South Carolina trooper clocked at 131 mph – gets suspended for 3 -days, loses unmarked car; Now faces a $355 fine and six points against his license

April 6, 2009 at 7:41 pm

(Source: Charlotte Obervser & Autoblog)

Horry County officer back at work after 3-day suspension for going 131 mph in Kershaw County

Do you ever get the feeling that cops are reluctant to give other cops speeding tickets? We’ve heard a few tales of off-duty police officers flashing their badge to an on-duty traffic officer and getting off without points or a fine. That doesn’t happen all the time, though, as South Carolina state trooper J.D. McGaha knows all too well. McGaha was actually on his shift and traveling in an unmarked Dodge Charger patrol car when he was clocked going 131 on a 70-mph interstate. 

His reason for driving at ridiculous speeds was that he was on his way to work traffic at the Carolina Cup in Camden, SC and was running late. Just like “running late” isn’t a good excuse for the rest of us, in this case it didn’t didn’t warrant a free pass for Mr. McGaha. The Charlotte Observes quotes Department of Public Safety director Mark Keel saying:

He faces a $355 fine and six points against his license if convicted.

“There was no justification for it,” Keel said. “He had no excuse.”

While McGaha was being stopped, he flashed the car’s police lights, presumably to let the trooper know he was a police officer, Keel said.

In August 2006, McGaha was recognized by the Department of Public Safety and Mothers Against Drunk Driving as “Statewide Rookie of the Year” for his work stopping drunk drivers.

“He’s been a great trooper from what I understand,” Keel said. “He was very apologetic, and he knew he made an error in judgment, and it’s those kinds of errors that can get people hurt.”

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