Speeding tickets dismissed after Wilmington officer's radar certification expires
Months of speeding tickets were recently dismissed following the discovery that Wilmington police officer Eric Lippert’s radar certification had expired in October 2021.
Police Chief Donny Williams described the incident as "a mistake of the mind, not a mistake of the heart."
He said he had opened an investigation into the issue, which included an audit of all radar operators. The audit found that the incident was isolated and that all other radar certified officers are in “good standing.”
“I am taking corrective action at this time and want to apologize to those directly impacted and the Wilmington community for our mistake. Please know that this matter is being addressed,” Williams said in a statement released to the media in July.
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District Attorney Ben David also addressed the issue in a letter to the New Hanover County Bar. In the July 18 letter, he said he had instructed his staff to dismiss any pending speeding charge issued by Lippert from Oct. 1, 2021 to July 7, 2022.
“There is no evidence of bad faith or malice by Officer Lippert,” David wrote. Lippert himself notified the police department about his lapsed certification.
David’s letter also stated that any other pending charges and disposed speeding tickets issued by Lippert during this time will be addressed on an individual basis.
After conducting a preliminary search, the District Attorney's Office found that Lippert had approximately 30 speeding cases between October 2021 and July 2022, according to Samantha Dooies, assistant to the district attorney.
Certification process
The issue raises larger questions about the certification process for speed measurement instruments, such as the radar device used by Lippert.
Laura Brewer, spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Justice, said it is uncommon for police officers to forget to get recertified.
Officers who are certified to use speed measurement instruments must attend recertification courses before their certification expires. Certifications are valid for three years.
Following initial certification, officers have one year to complete the recertification process. During this one-year period, officers cannot operate any speed measurement instrument equipment. Once their certification is renewed, officers may begin using the equipment.
If an officer fails to renew their certification within one year, they must complete a new application and class to get recertified.
The consequences for an officer who has issued speeding tickets following the lapse of their certification are unclear.
“Law enforcement agencies have been contacting the local district attorneys to seek guidance,” Brewer said.
In the case of Lippert, Williams said the police department’s internal investigation is ongoing.
Wilmington Police Department communications specialist Brandon Shope said the department will not be commenting further because it is a personnel matter.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington Police Department officer's radar certification expires
