2/16/2006
Tennessee: Camera Phone Captures 100 MPH LawmakerCell phone camera captures Tennessee lawmaker speeding at more than 100 MPH.
Tennessee State Representative Joe McCord (R-Maryville) has been caught on tape blasting past motorists on Interstate 40 in his pickup truck at speeds apparently in excess of 100 MPH. When Franklin resident Alan Osburn saw a truck that passed him at high speed had special legislative plates, he pulled out his Treo camera phone and began recording the incident. He later learned that the plates belonged to McCord.
Osburn's video includes a shot of his speedometer reading 100 MPH as he attempts to keep pace with the speeding solon. McCord admits he was late for a hearing and was speeding, but not by that much.
"I'm sure I was speeding, I was late for a meeting," McCord told WKRN-TV. "I don't think it was reckless, I think I was speeding."
In August, Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey was videotaped speeding at 94 MPH in the heavy rain. Ramsey denies he was driving that fast.