A state trooper in Florida was fired for failing to issue a speeding ticket to a lawmaker.

Florida Highway Patrol trooper Charles Swindle stopped state Rep. Charles McBurney for doing 87 mph in a 70 mph zone. However he was falsely cited for not having proof of car insurance, a $10 ticket rather than a $280 that should have been given.

The incident bothered McBurney which led him to write to Swindle's superiors on legislature letterhead about his favoritism.

"If those who enforce our laws fail to meet the highest ethical standards, there is erosion of that confidence," McBurney argued. "I am concerned that as Trooper Swindle acted in such fashion to me, that he would do so to any law-abiding citizen of our state."

Swindle reportedly told the dispatcher, "I'm going to write (McBurney) a warning and be nice; I'm going to stroke him 'cause I didn't see his insurance card."

The incident launched an international investigation and two weeks ago, he was let go for "conduct unbecoming a public employee."

Swindle then hired an attorney to appeal his dismissal, explaining the state highway patrol has an "unwritten policy" of not issuing tickets to state lawmakers.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles executive director Julie Jones denies Swindle's claims of this "rule" and even has official records of speeding tickets written to several lawmakers over the past few years.

"That's horse hockey. There is no policy that says we give anybody a free pass because they're elected officials," she explained.

Attorney Sidney Matthew of Tallahassee believes that Swindle was unjustly fired.

"Florida Highway Patrol can't have it both ways, with a policy of discretion to cut breaks to legislators who are speeding and then turn around and fir them," Matthew explained.