Gilland only one officer let off night of traffic stop

News13 has obtained the record of traffic tickets and warnings issued during the 24-hour-span of the night Horry County Council Chairwoman, Liz Gilland, was pulled over for speeding.

Gilland was given a warning the night of Sept. 29 for driving 52 miles-per-hour in a 35 mph zone, 17 miles over the posted speed limit.

The officer who pulled her over, L Cpl. Jack Johnson also pulled over 12 other people for traffic violations within 24 hours of Gilland’s stop.

He issued warnings for four people, but none for violating the speed limit. Those warnings were issued for the following violations: vehicle license violation; improper turn; ‘drifting’’; and ‘weaving in lane.’

Eight people were given tickets from Sept. 29-30. Four of them were because of other traffic violations, including: no driver’s license in possession; 2 tickets for drivers who violated ‘slow traffic right’; and one for an improper right turn.

Officer Johnson issued four speeding tickets during that time, for the following violations:

• Man driving 32 mph in a 15 – 17 miles over the speed limit
  
• Woman driving 55 mph in a 35 – 20 miles over the speed limit
  
• Man driving 70 mph in a 55 – 15 miles over the speed limit
  
• Woman driving 55 mph in a 45 – 10 miles over the speed limit
  

In the dash cam video obtained by WBTW News13, the officer who pulled Gilland over can be heard saying, "I've got Liz Gilland pulled over for doing 52 in a 35........yes I do, I'm going to go ahead and cut her a warning and let her roll......so just letting you know, I've got a V.I.P."

News13 tried asking Horry County police officers why four people were given tickets and only one person let off with a warning, but they declined to speak on camera concerning the issue.

"It's the officer's discretion to issue a warning," Sgt. Robert Kegler said Thursday, "and it remains at the officer's discretion."

"Gilland and the officer involved acted properly during the stop", Kegler said at the time of the incident "Anytime a Horry County Police Officer pulls over an off duty police officer or anyone of a political nature, their protocol is to notify their supervisor. What he did is standard procedure."

News 13 spoke to two people who were also pulled for speeding by Johnson within a day of when he pulled over Gilland.

They were ticketed, fined, and now they say they’re outraged.

Three hours after Johnson pulled Gilland over, he stopped Michael Sokolik on U.S. 17 for driving 15 miles per hour over the limit. Sokolik, unlike Gilland, was ticketed.

“Both of us should have gotten a ticket. The officer was doing his job and if an Horry County councilman doesn't get a ticket going 17 over but just a normal citizen gets one going 15 over, it's kind of unfair,” said Sokolik.

Sokolik says he had to pay a $133.00 fine and two points were added against his driver's license.

”I think we should all be treated equally. If I’m going to get a ticket then she should get a ticket. and if she doesn't, then I shouldn't. I don't see any reason why that's not fair…America's built on equality,” said Sokolik.

Another person, Martha Upshal, was pulled over by the same officer going 45 miles an hour in a 35 mile per hour zone.

She was fined $80.00 and two points were assessed to her driver's insurance.