Prince George’s County Councilwoman Karen Toles remains barred from her county-owned vehicle now that county police have issued a reckless driving charge against her.
The council took away Toles’ vehicle last week after news of her high-speed traffic stop broke, and the ban will continue while her case works its way through the judicial system, Council Chairwoman Andrea Harrison, D-Bladensburg, said late Tuesday night.
“Prior to today’s action, the County Council agreed and maintains that Councilmember Toles will have no use of or access to a county-assigned vehicle, for her safety and the safety of others,” Harrison said.
Toles, D-Suitland, would have been ineligible to use a county-owned vehicle regardless of the council’s action. With the citation for reckless driving, she now has nine points on her Maryland driver’s license – a county employee with six or more points is not allowed to use county vehicles, according to the county’s administrative policies.
County employees also are banned from using county vehicles while their license is suspended, which could happen to Toles.
The councilwoman had two points on her license before her latest traffic stop, according to state Motor Vehicle Administration records, and state law requires that a license be automatically suspended when eight points are accumulated.
County employees who use county-owned vehicles with a suspended license are subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal, according to county code.
Police Chief Mark Magaw cited Toles for reckless driving on Tuesday, the second citation issued by police stemming from her Feb. 22 traffic stop. A police executive review panel investigated video of the traffic stop and recommended Magaw issue the additional citation.
The councilwoman had already received a unsafe lane change citation from the incident. Together the two citations carry fines of $600 and seven points on Toles’ license.
She can plead guilty to the citations and pay the fines or challenge them in court, police said.
Toles’ attorney, Rosalyn Pugh, said it would be inappropriate to comment currently.
