The Risks Of Vanity Plates

The web page of the Pennsylvania Bar Disciplinary Board notes a reciprocal suspension of a year and a day imposed based on this 2008 order of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board.

The attorney – then known by a different name – pled no contest to felony eluding the police by speed.  She was sentenced to three years incarceration suspended in favor of probation.

On the night in question, the attorney claimed that she was arguing with her boyfriend. She passed a police officer who activated his emergency siren and chased but gave up at a speed of 80 miles per hour.

The attorney hit a stop sign but nonetheless made good her escape.

But the officer noticed that the first four letters of her license plate spelled “DIVA.”

The (now ex) boyfriend notified the police who confirmed that the attorney drove a Mach I Mustang with the license plates “DIVA EVA.”

The Virginia Board rejected the attorney ‘s claim that she was speeding and arguing with the boyfriend and had not noticed the pursuing officer. The police officer testified that he was told she had boasted of outrunning him.

And, of course, she had pled no contest to that very charge.

A dissent in the Virginia case favored revocation. (Mike Frisch)