ADAMS COUNTY – Sheriff Michael McIntosh says the deputy who gave a man a ticket for a broken windshield in the parking lot of an auto glass shop used proper discretion in response to a 9Wants to Know story earlier this week.
The sheriff sat down for an interview with investigator Jeremy Jojola more than two weeks after we asked why the deputy gave the man a ticket when he was so close to getting it fixed.
Sheriff McIntosh says the deputy who pulled Nick Berlin over actually gave him a break by giving him a lesser ticket than what he could have been cited for. The sheriff says Berlin could have been cited for no proof of insurance and no registration when he was pulled over on Aug. 19 for a broken windshield.
9Wants to Know profiled the case in which Berlin was given a ticket for the broken windshield in the parking lot of Absolute Auto Glass on Monday. Records from the shop and Adams County corroborate Berlin's claim he had a repair appointment and where he was pulled over.
PREVIOUS STORY: Sheriff's Office backs off on broken windshield ticket
PREVIOUS STORY: Man ticketed for broken windshield while trying to fix it
"So the $46 could have been a $522 fine," Sheriff McIntosh said. "And when we look at the entirety of the circumstances, I just want folks to know we don't have quotas, we are not out there for the money. We want to make sure people in the community are safe."
Sheriff McIntosh also claims Berlin had a prior history of driving with an "unsafe vehicle" and that Berlin never told the deputy he had a repair appointment.
Berlin clams he had proof of insurance on his phone, but the deputy already wrote the ticket before he was able to pull it up.
Berlin admits he didn't have a physical copy of his registration.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office says it confirmed Berlin's car was currently registered during the time of the stop.
Berlin said he doesn't remember an "unsafe vehicle" citation, but did say he got a speeding ticket in March and believes the charge could have been reduced when he paid the ticket in full.
Sheriff McIntosh says knowing what his office knows now, they won't mind if the judge dismisses the broken windshield citation.
Berlin has court on Nov. 18 and plans to ask for a dismissal of the ticket.
(© 2015 KUSA)
