
South Carolina Highway Patrol
I’m pro-police. Tried and true…pro police. So this post shouldn’t be construed as police bashing. It’s more like bashing one single guy and his lack of good ole common sense. His name…John McGaha. His title…Senior Trooper. His employer…South Carolina Highway Patrol. For now.
You see, Trooper McGaha got caught speeding…by another trooper. Not really so weird, it happens I would gather when your off duty and all. But you also need to understand is that Trooper McGaha was actually on duty, in his unmarked patrol car. His speed you ask? Good question, try 131 mph in a 70 mph hour zone.
Ummm…like…WOW! Holy crap Fastman! That’s an insanely fast speed. Apparently Trooper McGaha was called to another area of the state to work a special event and was running late. What I wonder is that how many times he heard that excuse, “Sorry Trooper, I’m running late”.
To be fair, another trooper clocked him, radioed ahead (how possibly can you catch someone doing 131 mph anyways?) and pulled out to get him. That’s when Trooper McGaha activated his pull lights….just to let the other boy know that…”Hey, I’m one of you”. The other trooper then radioed to advise other units that it’s ok, it’s just a crazy cop when a supervisor said “No, pull him to the side of the road and give him some paper”. And that’s exactly what happened. He received a reckless driving ticket for his actions driving and a three day unpaid suspension from work. I tend to think that cops generally receive harsher, not lighter punishments. They get the legal end like we all get but then their agencies tags them again with additional punishment.
Personally I’m fine with this punishment because it’s going to last a lot longer than the 3 days unpaid MaGaha got.
Now for you and I this story would end there…right? Right, of course it would. But The State newspaper did their handy work and filed a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request for Trooper MaGaha’s driving record. Shocker of shockers what do they find?? That his license was suspended for failing to pay vehicle taxes. Oh. My. Gosh! A Trooper? For how long??? Well…from December 3rd, 2008, through February 20th, 2009. Oh. My. Gosh!!! What was he thinking? He even received a notice in November advising him to pay the fee of $179.98.
Sorry Trooper MaGaha but you have to go. You did right by getting online and blogging at The State’s website stating you were wrong for speeding but come on…this is too much. There are other good people out there looking for jobs and you…should probably loose yours. You are the weakest link. Goodbye!