Officer Robert Barrett ticketed Kasich on Jan. 8, 2008 on Ohio 315 for approaching a public safety vehicle with its emergency lights on. Kasich paid the $85 in fines and costs and was assessed two points on his driver’s license, according to court records. Bureau of Motor Vehicle records show it is his only violation in the last 10 years.
“Have you ever been stopped by a policeman who was an idiot?” Kasich told an audience of 1,200 Environmental Protection Agency employees on Jan. 21. “I had this idiot pull me over on 315.”
Kasich told the crowd the officer gave him a ticket and said, “‘You must report to court. If you don’t report to court, we’re putting a warrant out for your arrest.’ He’s an idiot. We just can’t act that way and what people resent are people who are in government who don’t treat the client with respect.”
Columbus Police Sgt. Rich Weiner on Wednesday said the police cruiser video of the 18-minute traffic stop shows the officer acted professionally. Weiner said the footage could be used as a training video for recruits.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said, “The governor, of course, respects the important work of law enforcement officers and regrets his poor choice of words in describing his frustration in receiving a ticket. The point of the governor’s remarks to Ohio EPA employees was to stress that all public employees must provide better, more responsive service to taxpayers.”
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