A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol was southbound in the right lane of US 45 on Wednesday, July 27 at 3:59pm when a vehicle passed him in the left lane. A simple check through the Department of Transportation records indicated the license plates on the vehicle were suspended.
The record check also indicated the registered owner of the vehicle did not have a valid driver’s license. The deputy was able determine that the driver matched the physical description provided by the records check. The driver, a 26-year-old Milwaukee woman, was stopped and confirmed to be the registered owner of the vehicle. The driver acknowledged she did not have a driver’s license or have insurance on the vehicle.
Department policy will not allow the driver to operate the vehicle after the traffic contact if there is not another licensed driver immediately available. As a result, a towing company was summoned to the scene to remove the vehicle. As the deputy was trying to explain the citation procedure, the woman abruptly took the citation out of the deputy’s hand and went to get into the tow truck.
While getting into the tow truck, she threw the citation on the ground.
As the tow truck drove away the deputy decided not to re-initiate contact with the woman to discuss the issue of littering realizing it would only cause a greater confrontation.