Drivers are pulled over every day for suspected traffic violations. Some get ticketed. Some don’t.
Is it different when the driver is the governor?
That’s what many Nevada residents have been debating after Gov. Joe Lombardo, who by the way is running for re-election, was stopped by an officer who said Mr. Lombardo had failed to stop at a red light, and then let him go without a ticket.
Police body camera footage obtained by The New York Times showed the brief exchange when Mr. Lombardo, 63, was stopped on May 15 while on his way to the airport with his wife, Donna, who sat in the passenger seat.
As the officer began to explain the reason for the stop, the governor interrupted to say, “I’m Joe Lombardo.”
“I’m aware,” the officer replied, before continuing to explain the violation.
“Come on, man,” Mr. Lombardo said.
“You’re good to go, sir,” the officer said. “Appreciate you. Have a good day.” And with that, he let Mr. Lombardo drive on.
The episode has divided people on social media over whether it was appropriate for the governor to receive neither a ticket nor a warning.
On social media, posts about the encounter garnered thousands of comments. Many argued that nobody was above the law, and some joked that the next time they are stopped by a police officer, they will say, “I’m Joe Lombardo.” Others defended the governor, saying they had been pulled over for similar violations and not received a ticket.
The video has emerged as Mr. Lombardo, a Republican, is engaged in a competitive race to retain his office.
In November, he will face off against Aaron Ford, the Democratic attorney general of Nevada, who won his party’s nomination last month.
In a post on X, the Nevada Democratic Party said the governor was “demanding special treatment after breaking the law.” But police associations have said it is not unusual to stop drivers and let them off after explaining the reason for the stop.
Steven Grammas, president of the union for the Las Vegas police, said officers generally have discretion to write tickets and that it was not uncommon for an officer to stop a driver without issuing a citation.
He also pointed out that the governor did not demand special treatment but simply identified himself. Mr. Grammas’s union has endorsed Mr. Lombardo, who previously served as sheriff of Clark County, home to Las Vegas.
“This smells to me like a political attempt to slander the governor for his interaction with an officer, which was totally fine,” Mr. Grammas said. “It’s funny to me that this is getting so much traction.”
It is not clear why or how the video surfaced now, nearly two months after the incident.
In a statement, Mr. Lombardo’s campaign acknowledged that he was stopped “over a question about whether Governor Lombardo had come to a complete stop while turning.”
“Governor Lombardo spoke with the officer, fully complied with all instructions and was promptly on his way,” the statement said. “He remains grateful for the professionalism of the officer involved and for the service of law enforcement officers across Nevada.”
Mr. Lombardo is widely seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbent governors as the state faces serious economic troubles. Nevada has among the highest unemployment rates and gas prices in the nation. And Las Vegas has seen declining tourism, causing restaurants to cut hours and resorts to try to attract customers with deals and discounts.
Mr. Lombardo has defended his handling of the economy, noting that he has cut taxes and that thousands of jobs have been created during his term.
The post Let a Governor Go Without a Traffic Ticket? A Stop Stirs Debate. appeared first on New York Times.
