A recent traffic stop involving Oklahoma State Sen. Regina Goodwin (D) turned confrontational, leading to her handcuffing after she refused to show her driver’s license.
Fox News reported that Senator Goodwin engaged in a highly charged traffic stop with Tulsa County Sheriff’s Deputy Freddie Alaniz, ultimately resulting in a citation for ignoring stop signs.
The incident occurred on Saturday, January 11, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when Goodwin, representing Oklahoma's 11th District, allegedly failed to stop at two stop signs. This prompted Deputy Alaniz to pull her over and initiate the traffic stop.
Deputy Alaniz, equipped with a body camera, documented the encounter from the outset. He claimed to have witnessed Goodwin disregard two stop signs, an assertion that Goodwin disputed throughout the conversation.
Upon approaching her vehicle, Alaniz repeatedly requested her license. "Ma’am, I’m not going to ask you again. Can I get your driver’s license, or can I take you to jail on running a stop sign?" he asked, as recorded in the footage.
Goodwin maintained her stance, expressing disagreement with the deputy's account. She argued, "That is not true. That is not true at all."
The interaction quickly escalated into a contentious dispute. Goodwin accused the deputy of inflating tensions, stating, "I think you really escalated something. No, sir — that is, why would that even be an option for you?"
Goodwin's insistence that Deputy Alaniz had misrepresented her actions supported her belief that the stop was unnecessary. When the demand for identification persisted, she asserted, "There was no refusal of me to give you my driver’s license."
Despite these claims, Alaniz contended, "I asked you over five times to give me your driver’s license, and you kept debating your driver’s license." This standoff led to Goodwin being detained in handcuffs and placed in the deputy's patrol vehicle.
Amidst the heated exchange, Mike Manning, Goodwin's attorney, intervened and engaged Deputy Alaniz. Acknowledging the situation, Manning suggested a resolution: "I realize you have a job to do, officer. I realize Sen. Goodwin can be a little bit strong-headed at times, but don’t you think you can write her a citation or something?"
Manning's objective was to defuse the situation without further escalating tensions. In response, Alaniz ultimately agreed to issue Goodwin a citation rather than continue with the detainment.
As the incident drew to a close, Deputy Alaniz provided additional details of his initial intentions. He stated, "She blatantly ran two stop signs, and I was just going to give her a verbal warning."
This underscores the deputy's original plan to handle the situation with a mere warning had the interaction not developed into a more contentious encounter. Goodwin received a citation for failing to stop at a stop sign. She is scheduled to appear in court on February 25 at 9 a.m., contingent upon her decision to pay the ticket in advance.
As Goodwin continues to serve in the state Senate, this incident, involving decorum between lawmakers and law enforcement, remains a subject of public scrutiny.
