Video shows judge barking at officer during Pennsylvania traffic stop

Publish date: 2024-07-15

A judge was allowed to go on his way after aggressively challenging a police officer during a traffic stop and ordering him to 'check the registration on this plate soon, mister'.

Judge Dennis Reinaker was pulled over in Pennsylvania for tailgating an unmarked police car, cops said.

Police dashcam video showed the traffic stop on April 26 of the Lancaster County President Judge as he got out of his vehicle to confront an officer.

The video, posted online last Thursday, showed Reinaker getting out of his SUV after being pulled over and barking at the officer: 'What do you think you're doing pulling me over? For blowing my horn?'

Judge Dennis Reinaker was pulled over in Pennsylvania for tailgating an unmarked police car, officials said

Judge Dennis Reinaker was pulled over in Pennsylvania for tailgating an unmarked police car, officials said

The Lancaster County President Judge ordered the cop to 'check the registration on this plate soon, mister' as he got out of the SUV to confront him

The Lancaster County President Judge ordered the cop to 'check the registration on this plate soon, mister' as he got out of the SUV to confront him 

After the officer ordered him back into the SUV, the judge said: 'You better check the registration on this plate soon, mister.'

The officer sent him on his way about 40 seconds later, saying: 'Have a good day, Judge.' Reinaker replied, 'you bet'.

After speaking to Reinaker through his car window, the officer then walked back to his own vehicle, smiling about he incident. 

Reinaker said in a statement to the LNP newspaper that he did not expect or ask for special treatment.

He added: 'However, I am not immune to an instance of mild frustration during a morning commute. 

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

'In this case, it was not clear to me why I was pulled over. I obeyed the officer's directives and intended no disrespect.'

The judge added that he told the officer to check his registration because he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

'If my intent was to tell him who I was, I could certainly have done so,' Reinaker said.

After around 40 seconds of checking the vehicle's registration, the officer told Reinaker, 'have a good day, Judge'. Reinaker then replied, 'you bet'

After around 40 seconds of checking the vehicle's registration, the officer told Reinaker, 'have a good day, Judge'. Reinaker then replied, 'you bet'

Reinaker said in a statement that he did not expect or ask for any special treatment from the officer when he confronted him

Reinaker said in a statement that he did not expect or ask for any special treatment from the officer when he confronted him

Pennsylvania Judicial Code of Conduct bans judges from seeking to benefit from their position or office. 

East Lampeter Township Police Chief Stephen Zerbe said Reinaker was irritated and 'wanted to bring to the officer's attention who he had stopped'.

Zerbe said the summary offense of following too closely does not usually result in a citation unless it causes an accident or is connected to some other violation.

In an interview after the incident Reinaker said he wished he had not got out of his vehicle to confront the police officer. 

He told WGAL: 'I know better than that. I wish I hadn't. I regret that, and I don't have any excuse for it.'

Reinaker told local media he reported the incident himself to the state Judicial Conduct Board.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKEcn%2BXb2xqZ4aesaa7jKyfqK%2BjYre2sMaeZJuZoqC2r7OMqJ2foZOav27A0Zqdn6GTYsC1u89nn62lnA%3D%3D