When all else fails… cry.

That old trick has been used eons to try to get out of traffic tickets and other minor offenses. But, it certainly turns more than a few heads when it’s a county legislator who’s shedding the tears.

Jennifer Schwartz Berky was stopped in her hometown Ulster, New York for speeding. Video of the stop shows Berky was more than a little rattled at the thought of a ticket.

At first, Berky was apologetic and made excuses about a phone call from her son that prompted her to speed.

After Officer Gary Short questioned her on an expired registration (she said she had simply forgotten to affix the renewed registration) he explained she was doing 43 miles per an hour in a 30 mph zone.

Berky appeared desperate to think of some kind of excuse for speeding, and blamed it on other drivers going the same speed. When that didn’t work she blurted out, “You know, I work for the county?”

The Democrat Ulster County legislator went on to rattle off “official” names but that didn’t sway Short.

“You’re not going to give a ticket are you?” Berky desperately asked.

That’s when the water works began.

“Please don’t give me a ticket. I’m broke, completely broke,” she pleaded.

The officer calmly and repeatedly told her there was no reason to cry, but that didn’t stop Berky.

“I’m begging you! I’m a very hard-working public servant… If you do this, it’s going to hurt me, it’s going to hurt me really bad,” she wailed.

Berky seemed to be stalling the officer, by not producing the proper documentation Short was asking for.

“I’m a single mom … Why would you pull me over, instead of someone else?”

The scene only escalated from there with a hyperventilating Berky exiting her car and claimed to be having a panic attack.

She then turned on the officer, and said she was suffering from PTSD before scolding Short for singling her out amongst all the other speeders.

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The video was being held by authorities for months. Ulster County officials finally released it on Tuesday after several FOIL requests. Needless to say, the unbelievable video has been making the rounds ever since.

Berky issued a statement to the Daily Freeman in response embarrassing spectacle.

“The video released earlier this week of my town of Ulster traffic stop captured a tough moment for me,” Berky said. “Like so many working families, I too face tough times and stressful situations. As a professional, a public servant and a mother, I know my interaction with Police Officer Gary Short was unacceptable. I want to apologize to Officer Short and thank him for his patience and professionalism with me during a very difficult time.”

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Renee Hayes

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