For what it’s worth, this is my take on the governor’s being stopped for not coming to a complete stop on a red light:
Democrats have tried to hang their hat on a non-issue. Makes no real sense. But here’s the story.
In May of this year, Governor Joe Lombardo was driving a pickup truck.
He was driving in a sparsely used road near the airport and failed to come to a complete stop while turning on a red light. A technical violation.
What’s interesting is that many police officers stop drivers for this kind of violation and other minor violations and never issue tickets. They often issue a warning and then send the driver on his or her way.
The officer that stopped the governor did, in fact let the governor know that he stopped him for failing to come to a full stop before making a right turn on a red light. The officer introduced himself. The governor introduced himself only by name, not by title. Without any prompting, the officer told the governor why he stopped him and then said, “You are good to go, sir. Appreciate you. Have a good day.”
That’s it. All captured on the officer’s body-camera video.
Democrats are questioning about whether or not the governor received preferential treatment. They’ve accused the governor of using his position of power to avoid accountability, being an out-of-touch politician who is playing by a different set of rules.
So, let’s look at the real facts.
First of all, the governor never identified himself as governor, he only introduced himself with his name. The officer recognized him.
According to the body-camera video, the governor never used his so-called position of power at any point in the conversation. Not once.
Second of all, the Democrats said Governor Lombardo is an out-of-touch politician.
In fact, the governor has sought to enact legislation that the people of Nevada have identified as their most important issues.
What are those issues?
Public safety. The governor signed legislation bringing a greater sense of safety to Nevadans everywhere.
Education. The governor signed legislation to establish greater district-level performance accountability and expanded bus transportation for transfer students at low-rated schools. The legislation he promoted and signed also made schools safer for students, teachers and faculty.
Affordable housing. He signed legislation to spur home construction and lower costs. He expanded the state’s affordable housing definition. He streamlined construction by waiving licensing fees for out-of-state contractors and expanding reciprocity agreements to ease workforce shortages.
His administration has focused heavily on economic development, job growth, and state employee compensation.
It should be noted that while Governor Lombardo has spent almost every day in Nevada since being elected, his Democrat opponent spent nearly two-thirds of his time traveling around the country trying to promote radical, socialist candidates and raise funds for his own candidacy.
And to the point that Democrats accuse Governor Lombardo uses his position of power to play by a different set of rules. The governor didn’t solicit special behavior from the officer who stopped him. He didn’t even identify himself as “the governor.”
Police officers have the discretion of ticketing the people they stop for minor infractions or to issue them warnings.
Do warnings have any meaning?
By way of disclosure, I was stopped a few years ago on an early Sunday morning. The officer said I failed to make a full stop at a stop sign before turning right. I politely told the officer that I thought I had stopped, but she assured me that it wasn’t a complete stop. She asked for my license and registration and went back to her car.
She must have seen what the officer who stopped the governor saw and that’s that there were no outstanding warrants.
She issued me a warning.
I remember that warning every time I come to a stop sign.
No doubt the governor will remember his moment, as well.
Meanwhile, his administration is benefiting the people of Nevada and that’s why he must be re-elected.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views.
