Further details have emerged on Chris Christie’s traffic stop in 2005, New Jersey 101.5 FM reports.
In 2005, Christie was pulled over for speeding in Lambertville, New Jersey, and was cited for speeding and for driving in an unregistered, uninsured vehicle. The car belonged to Christie’s wife, but the registration had expired about two months before.
Lambertville police director Bruce Coccuzza told the radio station that Christie’s position as a U.S. attorney was discussed: “He identified himself.” Christie’s campaign says the candidate does not recall how it came up.
In the car with Christie, according to his campaign and the local police director, were his wife, children, and Michele Brown — the friend and then-subordinate of Christie’s in the U.S. Attorney’s office, who has recently resigned because of an undisclosed $46,000 loan that Christie extended to her in 2007. The group was on its way to a football game that night at Christie’s alma mater, the University of Delaware.
Normally, it is a strict policy in New Jersey to tow an unregistered car — and in fact, a tow truck did arrive at the scene, according to the campaign. However, Christie was ultimately allowed to drive home. Coccuzza told the radio station: “From what I recollect I think she (the officer) even said at the time, ‘If wasn’t for the fact that you had a car full of children this car would be towed.'”
The tickets were marked “NO DEAL,” which is traditionally used by police when they feel a driver behaved badly, and that the judge should not go easy in the case. Christie eventually paid a $250 fine, and the registration ticket was dismissed after he produced proper documentation — though again, Christie’s campaign has conceded that the car’s registration was expired at the time.
Phone calls to the Coccuzza for further clarification were not returned, and we were later told he was not taking any more calls for the day.
