If you drive along I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette on a regular basis, you’ve most likely experienced the frustration of being caught in one of those exasperating traffic snarls caused by a wreck, usually on the notorious 18-mile stretch over Henderson Lake, a stretch with no exits – or bathrooms.
Well, take heart. State authorities have finally, at long last, realized there’s a problem along that stretch and they’re cracking down on speeders who zip along while ignoring the 60-mph speed limit.
Unless your name is Lamar Davis, of course. The enforcement by Louisiana State Police, which can carry fines of up to $1,000, does not apply to Lamar Davis.
Oh, Lamar Davis, by the way, goes by the title of Colonel and he’s the superintendent of Louisiana State Police. As in head honcho, the boss, Louisiana’s Top Cop.
It seems that Col. Davis, who was appointed to straighten out a rogue outfit that had seemed to have lost its moral compass, was running a little late for a 3 p.m. meeting in Lake Charles on June 28.
He was clocked at 91 mph in that 60mph speed zone along that infamous 18-mile stretch at 2:11 p.m. (he’s not going to make that 3 o’clock).
He was pulled over by a (ahem) state trooper whose identity was not immediately available but rest assured, he was already in over his head, severely outranked as he was.
Dash cam footage didn’t pick up any audio but the meeting was quite brief, probably just long enough for Davis to ask, “Do you know who I am?” to which the trooper most likely answered, “Gulp.”
“Yes, Sir. You have a good day now, Sir.”
Davis activated his own emergency lights (those blue ones that strike dread in your heart when you see them in your rear view mirror) in an apparent attempt to discourage the trooper who probably – mistakenly – thought he might be making a major bust only to discover that he’d pulled over his commander.
Speeding at a rate of 25 mph or more in excess of the posted speed limit is what is known by police as a 14:99 i.e., reckless operation, punishable by fines up to $200 and/or 90 days in jail.
A spokesman for LSP wrote to LouisianaVoice, “The Trooper utilized his discretion and did not issue a citation.”
If ever there was an understatement in invoking the word “discretion,” that would certainly qualify.
But it’s good to know troopers are free to use their “discretion” in matters such as this. If ever I get pulled over for speeding (which has not occurred since 1969 in Little Rock, Arkansas), I’ll be sure to ask the trooper if he can use his “discretion” and let me go with a warning – which I’ll bet he didn’t even do with Davis. I mean, would you “warn” your boss, especially when you couldn’t pull a 16-penny nail out of your butt with a John Deere tractor.
Louisiana Voice 
That doesn’t look like a LA State Police uniform or patrol car. Aren’t LSP cars white?
They have unmarked black units – mostly driven by the command staff, like Davis. Edmonson drove one when he was the colonel.
So much for the new colonel changing the status quo from the previous administration. Integrity and accountability. How do you expect change in your department if you don’t follow policy and procedure? Lead by example. Will the trooper get in trouble for turning his body cam off? Nothing changes.
Why didn’t he use the helicopter? They have one at their disposal.
I had exactly the same thought. If he’d have jumped into the chopper, with a helipad just outside his office door, he might have been on time for that 3:00.
Perhaps, as a budgeteer, I should mention it costs a lot more to fly that chopper than to drive a car, even if you are going 100 mph in the car.
Not just more economical, but more expedient. Stephen, I spoke to a former staffer of mine, whose father and brother are former troopers, who both flew the helicopters. He said that his brother and father told him that often times it was quicker to use the vehicles, especially when you are driving at that high speed. In this instance, there may not have been a landing sight in close proximity to the meeting. That means the helicopter would have had to land at the airport and a trooper would have to be there to pick him up.
Good point, Clifford.
Usually the top brass have drivers – wonder why the colonel was at the wheel himself. A driver might have prevented this story.
Also, earthmother, a radio call ahead would have also prevented the story. A simple call to all troopers patrolling I-10 west.