A Prince George’s County councilwoman accused of driving at an excessive speed last month held a brief news conference to apologize Wednesday.
Councilwoman Karen Toles did not say whether she would contest the reckless driving citation she received Tuesday after initially getting only a warning for allegedly driving 105 mph in a 55 mph zone in a county-issued vehicle, News4’s Shomari Stone reported.
“I offer my utmost and sincere apologies for this to my constituents and colleagues as well as all county residents,” Toles said. “I trust that we can now move forward with the very important business of the county, and I thank you for your cooperation and support.”
Her lawyer is looking into pending charges, Stone reported.
An officer stopped Toles on the Capital Beltway near Branch Avenue Feb. 22 for an unsafe lane change, police said. The officer’s in-car camera showed him following Toles at 105 mph in a 55 mph zone, but his speedometer hadn’t been calibrated and he didn’t have time to pace her, so the officer only issued a warning for excessive speeding.
An executive review panel recommended the reckless driving citation Tuesday.
The reckless driving citation carries a penalty of $510 and six points on Toles’s license.
Toles said she will not use her county vehicle until she completes a driver improvement course. The county then took away the vehicle until the matter is resolved.
Follow NBC Washington to get the latest news, events and entertainment anytime, anywhere: on air, online, and on Facebook // Twitter.
