A one-time-only traffic stop involved a fellow getting stopped and getting a ticket at the hands of no less a person than his twin brother, a cop, and it soon reached a state of virality, with many amused and bemused at such a combination of family and cop work.
The driver, in his view, was simply driving about in his routine when, in his rear view, saw flashing lights. As he continued to stop, he could hardly believe that out of the car alighted his twin brother, ready to serve him with a warrant for a state law infraction.
“You have to be kidding me,” the man supposedly cried out in disbelief. His outburst, however, took a lighter note when he cried out, “I’m reporting my mom about this!”—a cry that rang out with sibling rivalry everywhere. In a lighter note, even with such a flippant cry, the cop kept a level head and handed out a speeding ticket to his brother, proving family doesn’t beat traffic codes.
The incident was documented in a video and soon gained momentum in social networks. Fans and critics both enjoyed and were torn apart in amusement. Some valued the cop for maintaining integrity, but others ridiculed betrayal.
One commenter wrote, “Picture getting grounded by your mom and then getting grounded by the law in one day.” Another wrote, “Harsh, but I appreciate level of professionalism.” Others chatted about speculating about family dinner conversation afterward.
The lighthearted encounter even spurred a sidetrack discussion about having an identical twin and its legal ramifications. There were questions about: What happens when one wishes to utilize one’s twin’s identity in a bid to evade legal consequences? Although in this case, the individual in question did not attempt to flee with a ticket, in the past, it has happened that twins have exploited a similar fate to evade legal consequences. For instance:
A New Jersey man impersonated his twin, in a desperate move to evade a range of driving offences, including getting court clerks to believe a family member died.
In Tinley Park, Illinois, a man impersonated his twin during a stop for a traffic infraction, not knowing that his twin’s driving privileges were under suspension.
Lawmen confirm that even when twin sisters and brothers look similar, identity checking processes such as fingerprints and proper documentation make them impossible to escape legal consequences through an identity switch.
This is not a first for twins in law enforcement, with cases in the past having involved twins working in both ends of the law, for instance, one twin working in a police force and the other in legal troubles. In one case, a cop in Philadelphia was seen arresting a man who bore a striking resemblance to him, with many speculating that they could have been twins.
The twin sisters did have a familial bond, but when work takes precedence, work can prevail over family ties. In such a case, the cop clearly conveyed that everyone, including family, must follow speed restrictions.
