Above the Law: Democratic DC Area Councilwoman Let Off With Warning After Doing 105 MPH

If you happen to be driving in the DC area and see someone driving like they're on a NASCAR race track instead of a freeway, be warned -- that person may be a member of the United States Government, and they may not get into any trouble for it.

Certainly, Washington DC metropolitan area councilwoman and Democrat Karen Toles didn't, despite having been pulled over for going 105 miles per hour -- a speed which is at least 30 miles per hour in excess of most posted speed limits in the United States, and was 50 miles per hour in excess of the posted one in Prince George's County - a suburb of the DC metropolitan area.

According to Fox Nation, the officer who stopped Toles gave her a ticket for an unsafe lane change, but let her off with a warning about excessive speed when she told him she was a councilwoman. The officer reported having to drive 105 MPH to keep up with Toles' car -- a number that his in-car camera confirmed.

The incident has sparked sufficient outrage that a review panel has been selected to look into all aspects of this traffic stop. Toles issued a statement apologizing, but has been mysteriously inaccessible to news media. This video report from Fox explains the situation:

This is the relevant part from the transcript:

TOLES: As you know, public safety is very critical to me in this community.

THOMAS [FOX5 Anchor]: We tried to speak with Toles as she was leaving.

FOX5: You issued a statement last night, why can’t you just say it on camera?

THOMAS: It appears she received treatment typically afforded movie stars; security officers surrounded her, and shielded Toles from reporters and cameras, even going so far as to speak for the councilwoman.

SECURITY: She’s not seeing with anyone today.

No stranger to speeding violations, Karen Toles was cited for an unsafe lane change in March 2010, and driving off a roadway while passing other vehicles in September 2010.