Talk about setting an example. Chief Richard Knoebel of the Kewaskum, Wisconsin police department made a mistake while driving his patrol car last September. While patrolling a four lane stretch of US 45, he saw a dump truck stopped on the side of the road. Noticing a car coming up from behind, he worried that it might hit the stopped truck, so he moved into the passing lane. And promptly passed a stopped school bus with its lights flashing. (This is illegal everywhere as far as I know.)
Then he wrote his own ticket, paid his $235 fine and took four points on his driver's license.
It happened in September but didn't make news until after the fine appeared in court records and was reported by a West Bend newspaper.
Knoebel says he doesn't mind getting the belated attention, if it serves to raise awareness.
"If it brings notice to people that they should be stopping for school buses, I don't mind the notoriety," he said.
Kudos to Chief Knoebel. Here's the Kewaskum police department's website.
Better yet, it seems the good Chief has been serving Kewaskum since 1988. Usually it’s the long term that indulge in special perogatives. Kewaskum clearly has a good man there.
Looks as if he’s one of their teachers for hunter’s ed, too. Bet that’s an excellent class!