Kathy Luper, Moffett Town Board chairman, said the evidence included drugs, drug paraphernalia, guns and other items, which prove that Moffett police were stopping motorists for suspected illegal activity and they were not running a speed trap.
The Town of Moffett and four other Oklahoma towns came under fire earlier this year when audits showed the towns were running on fines levied against motorists. State Rep. Glen "Bud" Smithson (D-Sallisaw) said state law prohibits towns from obtaining 50 percent or more of their revenue from speeding tickets. Smithson said an audit of Moffett showed the town's revenue was boosted 84 percent in one year alone by speeding tickets.
Luper said the town held the evidence viewing Friday to show Moffett officers were stopping vehicles suspected of being operated by people breaking other laws, not for speeding.
Luper said, "It's not just speeding tickets. In 2005 we issued 12 speeding tickets. In 2006 we had 37 speeding tickets.
"But in 2006 we had 99 DUIs (driving under the influence), 50 arrested for drugs, 147 arrested for possession of marijuana, 154 arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, and 190 for driving with a suspended license. Those statistics aren't getting into the media."
Luper said the contraband displayed Friday for the media and officials shows Moffett police were not stopping only speeders. The evidence was gathered for display, Luper added, before it is sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to be destroyed.
Luper said if one life was saved by taking a drugged or drunken driver off the highway, it was worth the effort.
Luper said she invited a representative of the attorney general's office, and Gary Gibboney, a retired state auditor who answered questions posed by those viewing the evidence.
She said Smithson and State Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau), both of whom worked to get Moffett police officers off the state highways because of complaints from motorists, were both invited to Friday's viewing.
Smithson said Friday that he and Corn has previous commitments and were not able to attend the viewing.
The viewing included photos and videos of the evidence Moffett police confiscated when they were patrolling State Highway 64D, Interstate 40, and U.S. Highway 64. Luper said she checked the tickets herself, and found that most were not for speeding on those highways.
Also at the viewing were Moffett's four police officers, including Police Chief Charles Miller.
Smithson, who was out of town and reached by cell phone Friday, said Gov. Brad Henry signed the bill to remove Moffett police from the highways on June 4.
Smithson said the audit of the town's past records for one year showed that 84 percent of the town's revenue was from speeding tickets.
"When you stop 1,500 motorists, you're bound to find some drugs," he said.
