Officer Says Driver Tried to Bribe Him

Cirenia Garcia of Burbank wanted to avoid a speeding ticket so desperately that she offered a patrolman $120 to let her go, Burbank police said Wednesday. She got the traffic citation anyway--then was charged with bribing a police officer, a felony that could send her to state prison for four years, police said.

And she’s out the $120 to boot.

“Apparently she and tickets don’t get along,” Sgt. Don Goldberg said.

Garcia, 31, was stopped in the 10000 block of Sherman Way about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after Officer Larry Hill clocked her driving 55 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone, Goldberg said.

She said, “I really don’t want the ticket,” and tried several times to give Hill the money although he told her it was illegal, Goldberg said.

Hill finally turned on a pocket tape recorder and when Garcia repeated the offer yet again, he arrested her and brought her to Burbank Municipal Jail, police said. The $120 she allegedly offered him was confiscated as evidence. Garcia also had to post $5,000 bail--$500 in non-refundable cash--to leave.

Garcia, who could not be reached for comment, faces arraignment Feb. 28 in Burbank Municipal Court.

The speeding fine alone would have been less than $120, Goldberg said.