Local Teen Gets Out Of Ticket By Writing Report

An Ada County Sheriff's deputy pulled a 16 year old driver over for going exceeding the speed limit by MORE than 25 MPH in a residential neighborhood.  The driver didn't get a ticket or charged with misdemeanor reckless driving.  I can't believe this is the punishment he got.

When the deputy pulled the boy over in the Star neighborhood, he was traveling 70 MPH in a 35 MPH zone.  Clocked at those speeds, the boy should've been either ticketed or charged with a misdemeanor for reckless driving.  The driver owned up to running late and making a stupid decision.  Thinking that was admirable, the deputy decided to withhold issuing a citation or charging him with reckless driving IF the boy wrote the deputy a report on the dangers of reckless driving.  Less than a week later the boy e-mailed in an eight page long, thoroughly researched essay.  He will NOT be charged with or cited for speeding.

While I respect what the deputy was trying to do, I completely disagree with the punishment.  Yes, the boy probably learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of speeding and other reckless driving offenses which is great.  He should've learned that in driving school before even getting behind the wheel of a car in the first place.  Fact is the law is the law.  You're caught speeding at double the posted limit, you face the legal consequences.  This boy shouldn't have gotten special treatment because he's young and a new driver.  As a 27-year old woman, I can say rather certainly that I wouldn't have been given the option to write a report if I was caught going 70 in a 35.  I would get a ticket or worse.  IMO, giving this boy an easier out and a clean driving record sends the wrong message that there are "exceptions" to following laws.  The penalty should be the same for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race etc.  No one is above the law.

I've been pulled over twice in my life and let off with just a verbal warning both times.  While I'm thankful the officers let me off, I would've fully accepted responsibility and a ticket for running the stop sign or improperly changing lanes.  I felt guilty for getting away clean both times.

But I want to know what YOU think!