Wash. state trooper removes Oregon plates

Jan 21,2008 00:00 by UPI

VANCOUVER, Wash. - A Washington State Patrol official said a trooper should have checked with superiors before disguising his unmarked patrol car with Oregon license plates.

Sgt. Randy Hullinger of the Vancouver, Wash., office said the plates have been removed from Trooper Brad Moon's car, the Longview (Wash.) Daily News reported Wednesday.

"We encourage our troopers to look at innovative ways to catch people," said Hullinger. "But it's always good to run innovative ideas past somebody else so we can consider all possible outcomes. He went out on his own. He was attempting to use some initiative to solve a problem, which is our job. But in this case it looks like maybe judgment-wise he should have run it by somebody else."

Hullinger's statements follow a complaint from a motorist who was cited for speeding in December. Dave Milbrandt, who does not deny driving 56 mph in a 35 mph zone, discussed the matter with Moon's supervisor after the trooper ticketed him while driving his patrol car with Oregon plates.

Hullinger said Moon will not face disciplinary action.