Unser’s Traffic Case Goes To High Court

Former auto racing champion Bobby Unser will have to wait weeks or months to find out if he’ll face prosecution on charges stemming from a 1994 traffic stop.

Unser’s lawyer, Armand Carian, wants the state’s Supreme Court to dismiss the case and stop what he described as harassment of Unser by prosecutors because of an incident with a police officer at Albuquerque’s airport.

Unser attended the nearly hourlong hearing, expressing dismay that his case has continued for years.

Assistant attorney general Jeff Jacobsen told the justices that even if the case goes back to district court, it’s uncertain whether Unser would be prosecuted because the “evidence is so stale.”

Unser was stopped by a police officer in May 1994 for allegedly speeding in the departure area outside the airport. He said the officer dented his truck with a nightstick and cursed him when he moved the vehicle to curbside. Unser also said the officer shoved him, and then he shoved her back.