Coach with lead foot talks traffic safety in ad

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State football coach Craig Bohl wouldn't have been tapped as a traffic safety pitchman had officials known about his driving record, Fargo Police Chief Keith Ternes said.

Still, Ternes isn't yanking the radio ad that feature's Bohl's voice.

The 30-second ad began airing this week as part of a traffic-safety campaign dubbed, “Are you getting it now?” The ad details a string of crashes in Fargo that killed five people in less than three weeks this fall and is targeted at repeat offenders.

Bohl has been ticketed for at least 18 traffic offenses in the region since 2003, the year he was hired, including 10 speeding tickets in the past three years, The Forum newspaper reported Tuesday. Court records show the highest speed Bohl was cited for was 95 mph in a 70-mph zone in 2005 in Stearns County, Minn.

“It certainly does take away from the message when the messenger might be somebody we're trying to reach,” Ternes said.

Bohl said his history of speeding was one reason he agreed to lend his voice to the campaign.

“This message applies to everybody,” he said. “I looked myself in the mirror and said, ‘I need to slow down.’”

Ternes initially told The Forum the spot likely would be re-recorded with a different spokesman, but he changed his mind after talking with Bohl.

“We're happy with where we're at,” the chief said. “Hopefully, (Bohl's driving record) does even more to emphasize the message.”

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