The Director of South Carolina's Public Safety Department has issued a directive to all state troopers after Lt. Governor Andre Bauer was stopped twice for speeding in the past four months, but did not get a ticket.  Director James Schweitzer has told troopers a person's political status should not impact law enforcement actions.

DPS released two video tapes of Bauer being pulled over by troopers.  The first stop happened December 26, 2005 in Laurens County.  Bauer was stopped for traveling around 78 miles per hour on Interstate 385.  The speed limit is 65 miles per hour.  In that stop, the trooper steps out of his patrol car, approaches Bauer's car, talks with him and lets him go without a ticket being issued.

A second stop was recorded on February 25, 2006.  Troopers say Bauer was traveling 101 miles per hour on Interstate 77 in Chester County.  A transcript of radio transmissions released by DPS shows Bauer, who was driving a state issued vehicle, attempted to contact the troopers following him on the radio.  In the video, Bauer pulls over to the shoulder.  The trooper never leaves the inside of his patrol car, and asked through the window for the driver to identify himself.  Bauer did not give his name, instead answering "SC-2".  Bauer says that indicates his rank among state constitutional officers.  Again, the trooper lets Bauer go without writing him a ticket.

In Spartanburg County Traffic Court Tuesday night, drivers who had been caught speeding expressed frustration with the appearance of a double standard.  Andrew Kent was there to fight a speeding ticket, "It sounds suspicious.  It doesn't sound like the rule of the law going on."  DPS Director Schweitzer agrees in the case of the Chester County stop, "Given the speed the Lt. Governor was traveling and the potential threat to public safety, I believe a citation was in order in that situation."  Schweitzer says he has told troopers that there is no room for preferential treatment in enforcing the law.

Bauer says the incidents are a mis-step, and is asking the people of South Carolina for forgiveness, "I'm not making any excuses.  I made an irresponsible decision and I accept responsibility for my actions."