Sports Reporter Dianna Russini Beats Ticket At Ridgewood Traffic Stop

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — After being pulled over in Ridgewood in January for allegedly using her phone while driving, former New York Times sports reporter Dianna Russini — who was embroiled in a scandal earlier this year — acknowledged being on the phone and was able to beat the ticket, according to body cam video posted in news reports this week.

The Center Square in New Jersey acquired and posted the footage after Russini bragged on a podcast in February that she called Vikings head coach Brian O'Connell to beat a traffic ticket in Ridgewood, according to reports.

The seven-minute bodycam video appears to show that a Ridgewood police officer allowed Russini to leave after she asked him which team he supported and talked about her access to the coach.

She also says her call was an "emergency" for work because she had to report a coach's firing.

In the video, Russini, who lives in Bergen County, says, "I'm an NFL reporter, and I just broke that Shawn McDermott got fired from the Bills....it was a work thing and it was an emergency."

"Obviously you were on your phone for a while," the officer responds. "...I got behind you by Whole Foods, you continued to be on your phone. I know you have a job."

She offers that she's never gotten a ticket before.

News reports about the video, including in Russini's former employer, the New York Times, were critical, saying she "appeared to show off her access."

Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons released a statement to NBC on Tuesday saying, “After following department protocol during the stop, and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini.

“The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.”

Ridgewood police officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

In another twist, Russini was said to have helped free a man and his dog from car crash in Wyckoff in April, according to the New York Post's Page Six.

Police in Ridgewood mounted an anti-distracted driving campaign back in 2021.