Assemblyman Albano Hit With Fine After Requesting Investigation of Trooper Who Issued Him a Ticket

For the first time in 35 years, a state lawmaker was charged with a $500 fine for an ethics violation, nj.com reports.

Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D-Cumberland) was hit with the fine by the state’s Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards for filing a complaint against a State Police trooper who stopped him for speeding in 2012, according to the report.

The vote was 8-0, according to the report.

Albano didn’t appear at the hearing due to health concerns, but his attorney stated he would accept the fine and not challenge it, according to the report.

Albano was stopped on his way to the statehouse in February of 2012 by trooper Randy Pangborn. According to the report, a video shows the stop lasted no longer than eight minutes and Pangborn apologized for issuing the ticket, but told Albano to “call the court” when he attempted to talk his way out of the ticket.

Shortly after, Albano, in his official capacity as an Assemblyman, requested an internal investigation into Pangborn, according to the report.