SOUTH BURLINGTON – On Friday morning at 8:52 AM, police issued a traffic citation and fine to Helen Bakke for driving 55 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. The officer involved stated that Bakke was “impeding the travel of other drivers and causing a public safety concern.” Now they are set to face off in court after Bakke protested the $82 fine.
“I don’t understand,” said Bakke. “The signs said to drive 55. I was driving 55. Why aren’t they giving tickets to all the people whizzing by me and almost knocking me off the road? It’s like the whole dang state is being run by race car drivers or something.”
South Burlington police are standing by the as yet unidentified officer, who has not been placed on leave or punished in any way at this time.
“We don’t feel that the officer was in error at this time,” said police chief Shawn Burke. “Mrs. Bakke has lived in Vermont long enough to know that speed limit signs are for show only, and that we all have places to go. Especially during the morning rush hour, it’s not safe to drive at or under the speed limit. I would advise motorists to drive at least 10 over the posted limit at all times, but 15-20 over will be safer as it will keep you driving with the traffic flow.”
A GoFundMe site has been set up to help defray Bakke’s legal costs, which she estimates could be in the dozens of dollars.
Image Credits: Dougtone.
The police officer must have been on a bicycle, if he or she was going slow enough to catch her.
Don’t think my honeywagon can go that fast!