"EVERYTHING BUT DRIVING THE CAR" -- Trooper's Account of Carpenter Citation

CARPENTER CITATION REVEALED

Details of Reckless Driving Charge Released

“Was Doing Everything But Driving the Car” -- Trooper

[a milwaukeeworld.com exclusive]

© 2006, by Michael Horne

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation State Patrol headquarters has released the narrative of the events that led the agency to issue a citation to Sen. Tim Carpenter on charges of Reckless Driving – Endangering Safety on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. The pavement was dry, the traffic was light and it was daylight in Racine County on that fateful afternoon.

Blame the early closing hours of Chicago’s art galleries for this one. Well, that’s what Carpenter did.

According to the narrative of Trooper Donna Reis, which has not been edited for spelling, style or punctuation, “I received a call … concerning a reckless driver NE from 7 Mile Road. I was at the scale. Two callers were following the vehicle. They had observed the vehicle driving on the shoulder for half mile or so and thought it struck the median wall. I observed the vehicle SE CTH F LL. The driver of the vehicle leaned to the right and totally disappear from sight on two occasions. During these times he deviated and came near to striking vehicles around him. The callers were trying to box him in, but he got around them. I activated lts and siren. Vehicle stopped RS at Golf Rd. WI DL going to Chicago for art exhibit that closes at 5 and needed his I-Pass and was looking for it and his cell fell and he had to look for that and there were other items on the passenger side he was trying to organize.

“He was doing everything but driving the car.”

The citation carries an estimated 6 points and calls for a deposit of $375. Carpenter issued a written plea of not guilty on March 27^th. The matter is now scheduled for a pretrial conference.

I have the telephone numbers of the two drivers mentioned, and will ring them up to see if they would like to talk about their brush with celebrity on the highway. I would also like to look at Carpenter’s 4-door maroon 2000 Saturn, license plate “BASEBAL” to see if it has sustained any recent damage – or repairs.