Cops OK with South Carolina mayor swerving a lawnmower on the highway with a beer at his side

Aynor mayor John Gardner, driving a lawnmower with a beer at his side, was pulled over by cops on the highway. But they let him go, because he is an important fellow and can do as he pleases.

Police dash cam video shows the moment a mayor in South Carolina is pulled over as he is driving down the road on a riding lawn mower with a beer by his side. In the footage, the Horry County police officer can be heard telling John Gardner, who is the mayor of Aynor, that he is driving his tractor with an open can of beer. The video shows Gardner swerving his lawnmower on the road before eventually being pulled over and questioned. After a bit of back and forth, Gardner pours out his beer and then gets back on his mower and continues on his way without a citation.

Even a man who's had a beer or two understands the power of silence.

Gardner asks, "Can we go to town hall?" The female officer replies, "Right now? Why would I want to go to town hall?"

No further response can be heard.

Not so much as a police report.

David Thompson with Aynor Police Department released a statement on Wednesday, saying

The situation involving Mayor Gardner was neither initiated or investigated by the Aynor Police Department therefore it would not be appropriate for me to make a comment on another agencies case.

Tony Godsey, the town manager for Aynor, said they have no comment other than "he wasn't charged so the town is not going to do anything further."