NH State Police Support Speeding Ticket For Couple In Labor

by visualestimate Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:03 am

LONDONDERRY, N.H. -- State police are standing by a speeding ticket given to a man rushing to get his wife to a hospital while she was in labor.

John and Angela Coughlin said they were rushing to get to a hospital on Sept. 18 after her water broke. Police said John Coughlin was driving more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone at 3:30 a.m.

"By his own action, he put himself, his wife, the life of his unborn child and the motoring public in a very dangerous situation," said Maj. Russell Conte.

When the trooper tried to pull him over, John Coughlin called 911, and a dispatcher explained the situation to the trooper, who then escorted the couple to the hospital. The baby was born six minutes after the couple arrived.

State police said the trooper didn't have to write a speeding ticket at the hospital, but he was using his discretion in deciding to issue it.

The colonel of the state police said the police are empathetic and understanding when people have a medical emergency, but he said they can't condone putting people in danger at high speeds. He said 911 is trained to help in situations like this one.

Legal analyst Mark Stevens said he thinks John Coughlin has a defense that will help him prevail in court.

"If the driver reasonably believes that he's avoiding harm that's greater than the one he creates -- in other words, if the birth of his baby is more important than a speeding ticket -- then he has a justification to do that," Steven said.

The family was surrounded by media Tuesday morning at Manchester District Court, but the Coughlins learned that their hearing date on the ticket was actually next week.

The Coughlins said they have no regrets about their actions.

"There's no lesson to be learned here," John Coughlin said. "You're still going to go fast in an emergency situation. You're still going to do what needs to be done."

The fine for going more than 25 mph above the speed limit is $350 to $1,000. But the judge has discretion on the fine, and a jury could drop the citation altogether.