The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
N. Fulton police refute radio host's argument
‘Southside Steve’ claims light was yellow; cop says red.
Johns Creek Police say it was a red light. “Southside Steve” says it was a yellow light.
Steve Rickman — a radio host for Atlanta’s “Rock 100.5” — was pulled over by police in Johns Creek on Saturday after police say he ran a red light. While the officer was in his patrol vehicle — likely running Rick- man’s driving record and not listening to 100.5 — the radio host whipped out his phone and began streaming the stop via Facebook Live.
“Well, not a good day...” Rickman says, turning his phone to show the lights on a Johns Creek patrol vehicle. “Crazy situation. Gentleman says I ran a yellow light. He says it was red and it wasn’t, it was two arrows... I look up and its yellow... He got me for running a yellow light.”
But the Johns Creek Police Department knows how to use Facebook too. The police posted a photo from a dashcam that shows the SUV that Rickman was driving in the intersection when cars from a different lane had the right of way and the green light.
“South-side Steve running a red light in The Creek,” the post read.
Ri c kman said he was charged with a 40-6-20, which is a violation of obe- dience to traffic control devices.
Rickman claimed in the video that he has a “perfect driving record” and was com-
ing home from a promotion. “I swear it was yellow. It had just turned yellow, so it’s actually kind of ridicu- lous,” he said.
In a poll posted to the radio show’s website, 62 percent of voters thought Rickman overreacted to the traffic stop.
The video ends with the officer approaching Rick- man’s vehicle and asking him to sign the ticket.
“(Am I) signing for running a yellow light? Is that what it says?” Rickman asks.
The officer shook his head. “Nope.”