-WJLA SCRIPT-

ANCHOR:

ABC-SEVEN'S ROSS MCLAUGHLIN WENT UNDERCOVER TO CATCH PEOPLE THUMBING THEIR NOSES AT THE LAW. HE FOUND SUSPENDED DRIVERS LEAVING COURT AND GETTING RIGHT BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL. ROSS IS HERE NOW WITH THE PROOF.

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ROSS MCLAUGHLIN:

 IT'S LIKE THEY'RE ADDICTED TO THEIR KEYS, THEY JUST CAN'T GIVE THEM UP. EVEN WHEN THEIR DRIVING PRIVILEGES HAVE BEEN YANKED.

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WE WATCHED THEM.

Shawn: "Question for ya..."

WE RAN AFTER THEM.

Shawn: "Hey, just so you know...don't do it."

AND WE STOPPED THEM.

Ross: "You shouldn't be starting up the vehicle and attempting to drive."

PEOPLE CHARGED WITH DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED, COMING OUT OF COURT, WALKING PAST POLICE CARS, AND GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL. BUT WHY?

Ross: "Why risk it?"

Lawrence Thompson: "I need to work."

THEY MAY HAVE THEIR REASONS.

Ross: "Why?"

Christopher Freeman: "Because, I...I had no choice sir."

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A CHOICE.

1ST Sgt. Brian Jacobs/Stafford County Sheriff's Office: "They're just taking a big chance out there, sir."

sergeant BRIAN JACOBS KNOWS. HIS OFFICE OVERLOOKS THE PARKING LOT OF THE STAFFORD COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

1ST Sgt. Brian Jacobs/Stafford County Sheriff's Office: "As soon as we do find out about these type of issues, we do take the appropriate action on it."

WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE. THIS GUY IS SUSPENDED FOR RECKLESS DRIVING.

Ross: "You were just in court for a suspended license."

AND THIS FELLA? A TRIPLE DUI OFFENDER.

Lawrence Thompson: "I don't need to be on camera."

WELL SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE...BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THEY IGNORING THE LAW.

Shawn/7 On Your Side Producer: "Your license just got suspended?

Paula Donoso: "No."

Shawn/7 On Your Side Producer: "No?"

Paula Donoso: "No."

THEY ARE AVOIDING THE TRUTH. THIS WOMAN DOES NOT HAVE A VALID LICENSE, ACCORDING TO POLICE. AND THIS GUY...

Ross: "You lied to the judge, you told the judge you didn't drive here Wednesday."

Christopher Freeman: "Yes sir."

TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE HE PARKED...ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.

Ross: "You parked at the far end of the lot, as far away as you could possibly park."

Christopher Freeman: "Because after this I was going straight home..."

Ross: "Because you didn't want to get caught?"

Christopher Freeman: "Correct."

HE SAYS HE WON'T DRIVE NOW.

Christopher Freeman: "Umm, at this point I guess I'm gonna call someone...call my cousin, to come pick me up because now I got a host of people watching me so I can't go 20 miles down to my cousin's house real quick."

AND THIS WOMAN...

Other guy: "I'll knock that (expletive deleted) camera right out of your hand."

Shawn-7 On Your Side Producer: "What's that?"

Paula Donoso: "Nothing."

GOT OUT THE DRIVERS SEAT AND TRADED PLACES WITH HER PASSENGER. AS FOR THIS GUY...

Ross: "You're not going to drive again, until this is all dealt with?"

Lawrence Thompson: "No I'll have to get somebody to drive back and forth or something."

ROSS ON SET:

LET'S RUN THROUGH THIS.

PAULA DONOSO...WE SAW HER GET A RIDE.

CHRISTOPHER FREEMAN HIS TRUCK WAS STILL SITTING AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND LAWRENCE THOMPSON... A FEW HOURS LATER HIS VAN STARTED TO MOVE...WE TRIED TO GET VIDEO OF THE DRIVER... BUT THE VAN SPED OFF. I CALLED HIM LATER...HE SAID IT WASN'T HIM. IF YOU SEE THIS HAPPENING YOU NEED TO REPORT IT TO POLICE.