Mayor Sheila Dixon expressed frustration Wednesday with reports that Baltimore City Department of Transportation officials held back a traffic citation issued to a veteran member of the City Council.

“I have concerns. I want answers. I think it sends the wrong kind of message,” Dixon said. “Nobody should have their tickets fixed.”

Dixon said her staff is investigating a state traffic citation issued to Councilwoman Rikki “Rochelle” Spector for failure to obey a traffic enforcement officer.

The ticket was never entered in court records as required by state law.

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Spector was fined $290, according to a copy of the November ticket, but never had to pay the fine.

Department of Transportation officials initially claimed the ticket had been “abated,” after an internal investigation concluded the officer had not communicated effectively with Spector.

City prosecutors said officials could not legally abate a state traffic citation. Spector defended her actions Monday, arguing she was helping the public by reporting a rude traffic enforcement agent.

Spector said the officer told her to drive straight through a downtown intersection near the Renaissance Hotel after waiting in traffic for 20 minutes to make her turn. “She was not a good ambassador,” Spector said of the officer.

Concerned about the officer’s lack of professionalism, Spector said she turned the ticket over to DOT officials to make them aware of the employee.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com