Former Rep. Allred can't use donations for ticket

A former North Carolina House member who said he was speeding to the Legislature to vote on behalf of his constituents can't use campaign contributions to pay his traffic ticket.

The Times-News of Burlington reported Thursday that the state Board of Elections ruled that campaign contributions can only pay for expenses resulting from holding public office, and those don't include paying for a traffic violation.

Former Rep. Cary Allred, R-Alamance, pleaded guilty in September to traveling 102 mph in a 65 mph zone on an interstate highway while driving to the General Assembly in April.

He said the fine, attorneys' fees and other bills totaled about $1,800. Allred said he would not have gotten the ticket if he hadn't been trying to do his job as a legislator.

Allred resigned in June 2009. Fellow legislators reported that Allred said he was speeding on the way to Raleigh on April 27 and had been drinking before the session.

Some lawmakers said they also believed he behaved inappropriately toward a 17-year-old female House page.

Allred said the page was a longtime friend of his family and that he kissed her on the cheek. The page and her parents said in the report they didn't want to file a complaint and were OK with what happened.

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Information from: Times-News