Austin cop who ran stop sign and hit motorcyclist won't be disciplined

By Carlos Miller
Jul. 08, 2010

Austin police officer Damon Dunn will not be cited for running a stop sign and slamming into a motorcyclist in an incident caught on dash cam video.

Dunn was typing into his computer when he idled through the stop sign at about ten miles-an-hour on May 29, according to the investigation.

However, the collision was powerful enough to knock Louis Oliver’s shoes off, leaving him in critical condition.

Austin City Code prohibits motorists from using wireless communication devices to send messages while driving, but police are exempt from that law, according to KVUE News.

Title 12 of the Austin City Code addresses electronic messaging while driving. Item A reads, “A driver of a motor vehicle may not use a wireless communication device to view, send, or compose an electronic message or engage other application software while operating a motor vehicle.”

But just below that, item C reads, “This section does not apply to an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle using a wireless communication device while acting in an official capacity.”

Apparently, the city code also exempts police officers from the statute that forbids motorists from running stop signs.