World's Worst - Cop Gives Ticket To Woman In Labor

Dec. 4: Three weeks ago, stranded in bumper-to-bumper traffic, state troopers told a pregnant woman and her husband they could drive slowly on the shoulder of Route 2 in Boston to get to the hospital faster since the woman was in labor. Todays Worst Person in the World wouldnt let it be that easy.

Jennifer Davis was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Nov. 18, her contractions just 3 minutes apart. Her husband, John, was trying to appear calm for his wife's sake, driving in the breakdown lane of Route 2. They pulled up behind a state trooper to ask whether they could continue using the lane to reach the next exit, near Alewife Station.

Not only did the trooper say no, he gave them a $100 citation for driving in the breakdown lane, made them wait for their citation while he finished writing someone else's ticket, and even seemed to ask for proof of pregnancy, Jennifer Davis said.

"He said, 'What's under your jacket?' I said, 'My belly,' " Davis said. "He waited and gestured with his head like, 'OK, let's see it.' He waited for me to unzip my jacket. I mean, it was so clear that I was pregnant."

The Davises say the contretemps occurred after two other troopers they encountered had waved them along in the highway breakdown lane, allowing them to evade gridlock while advising them to be cautious and keep their hazard lights on.

While State Police spokesman David Procopio declined to comment on the merits of this stop, he noted that state law prohibits driving in breakdown lanes on Route 2.

"The trooper made a judgment call to enforce the law governing the use of the breakdown lane," said Procopio. "If the couple does choose to submit a letter of complaint, we'll review it in accordance with our procedure."

The officer who gave the citation - Trooper Michael Galluccio of the Brighton barracks, according to his identification number - could not immediately be reached for comment.

Though the Davises live about 30 miles away in Dracut, Jennifer Davis, 38, wanted to have her baby at Mount Auburn, where she had also given birth to her 7-year-old son, Brendan.

"For 10 months we had been saying, 'As long as I don't go into labor during rush hour' - which we did," said Davis, a social worker for a visiting nurse group affiliated with the hospital.

They left for Cambridge after dropping Brendan off at school. Her contractions were about 5 minutes apart.

But the roads were so clogged that John Davis began using the breakdown lane. Davis - whose driving record has six speeding violations over the past 20 years, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles - said he tried to get troopers' permission to use the emergency lanes when they encountered them along their journey.

On Route 3, he pulled over and told a trooper that his wife was in labor. The trooper said they could use the breakdown lane only when traffic was backed up and only while using their hazard lights. On Route 128, they got stopped by a second trooper who allowed them to continue in the breakdown lane after noticing the infant car seat in the back of their Honda Accord and the mother's condition.

"I know people fabricate stories all the time," Jennifer Davis said, "but it was pretty clear that I was in labor."

Once on Route 2, they pulled up behind the trooper who ultimately cited them, who was attending to a car in the emergency lane.

He asked at least twice if they wanted an ambulance, but they declined, Jennifer Davis said. "I told him, 'My contractions are about 3 minutes apart. We just want to get off this exit.' We thought it would save us a little time."

State Police policy discourages the use of police escorts for private vehicles, except in life-or-death situations, Procopio said. But for a misguided moment, when the trooper left their car to finish up with the other motorist, John Davis hoped that the officer would come back to help them through traffic.

"Ironically, I was relieved to see the police. I thought, 'Oh cool, he'll help us,' " said John Davis. "He made it worse. He held us up."

The citation cost them 5 or 10 agonizing minutes before the trooper handed them an envelope and told them they'd be getting something in the mail. The citation came this week. In hindsight, the couple believe the trooper was trying to save them time by mailing the citation, rather than making them wait while he wrote it up.

Jennifer Davis was already deep into labor when they made it to the hospital, but it turns out they had time to spare. Charlotte Jane was born about five hours after their traffic stop, with a birth announcement that made the rounds of the maternity ward.

Said Jennifer Davis, "Our story spread like wildfire."

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[youarepwned]

joe, perhaps you haven't heard of the patriot act. Many people hated it because it repealed many laws.

Did you know if you don't like a middle eastern person, you can falsely accuse him of making bombs, and even when he gets arrested and is interrogated for days, and they realize it was a false tip, you won't be charged with false witness?

All thanks to the patriot act!

[ejr23]

I hope that prick loses his job, and never works as a law enforcement officer ever again!

[frostyuk2007]

Cops, they aren't rocket scientists, that's why they're cops. Give them a chance to return the favour of bullying they received as a child and via government theft of taxes their entire lives. They're state guns, nothing more.

[realhiphop087]

That cop should be sent to a concentration camp. Thats justice

[JohnnyBGood11]

I would Fire that cop so fast if none of these cops have common sense they should be fired ...you cant fix stupid cops

[archangel0829]

I am so glad this dumb-ass is finally of television.

[AnthonyVincent1]

What a real piece fucking of shit cop! All cops have a God complex, all cops are trash!

Anyone protecting this fagot cop in these comments is obviously a cop or related to one.

[SpiderRider3]

@AdamRiggs100 how was the couple being stupid? she was pregnant.

[LittleCupCakez]

That was mean. The next time you are reincarnated as a tree I hope a cop pulls you over too.

[AdamRiggs100]

i am glad som cops do that they are here to protect thats there job he wouldent have to do that if people werent so fuckin stupid so get over it he was doing his job u dumb bitches

[cportkilla]

DAMN !!!

[calvinhobbescinnamon]

i guess maybe one of the state troopers who told this couple to drive in the breakdown lane should have escorted them with their lights on...maybe guuloochiee or whatever the fuck his name is woulda ticketed that officer too....i understand it's illegal to drive on the right shoulder, but there are things called emergencies...which someone in hard labor is having...