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Driver Receives Ticket Over HIV Status

Driver Receives Ticket Over HIV Status


A woman sued the city of Dearborn, Michigan, after a local police officer gave her a ticket for having HIV. The woman has now received $40,000 in compensation over the lawsuit.

Back in 2012 during a routine traffic stop, officer David Lacey discovered medicinal marijuana in Shalandra Jones’ vehicle, along with an expired medical marijuana card. Jones explained to the officer that she was HIV positive. Lacey then grew enraged that she had not spoken up sooner, so he gave her a ticket. The lawsuit has finally come to a conclusion this week.

The officer was rather ignorant of the fact that you cannot obtain HIV by simply talking, or touching, someone who is infected with the disease. Speaking to Detroit Free Press, Lacey claimed he didn’t want to take anything home to his family. He said:

“You just made me mad. Honestly, if it wasn’t for that, I don’t think I would have wrote anybody for anything. But that kind of really aggravated me, you know what I mean? You got to tell me right away. Because at that time, I wasn’t wearing any gloves.

[You have to tell us] so that way we don’t get pissed. Cause otherwise we get pissed. Bad things happen. I found a needle on a guy once and he didn’t tell me. He’s not going to forget anymore!”