UPDATE: Denmark diplomat pulled over for speeding in Barnes County

July 30, 2010

Peter Taksoe-Jensen, center, is the soon-to-be Danish ambassador to the U.S. Image courtesy of khmernz.blogspot.com.

Peter Taksoe-Jensen, the Danish ambassador-designate to the U.S., was given a speeding warning Thursday evening in Barnes County after a caller reported he was driving more than 100 mph on Interstate 94.

Valley City police Sgt. Dave Swenson issued the warning to Taksoe-Jensen at 8:03 p.m. while Taksoe-Jensen was en route westbound near mile marker 303.

Swenson said he clocked Taksoe-Jensen at 94 mph. Swenson said he could have issued Taskoe-Jensen a speeding ticket, but decided not to because his understanding of diplomatic immunity is that Taskoe-Jensen is immune to prosecution and the diplomat could choose not to pay the ticket.

"He was also nice and polite and I issue warnings to other people for violations including speeding," Swenson said. "He told me he and his family were driving through on a vacation to Washington State, and I told him he had to slow down. If he got caught speeding in North Dakota again, he would get a ticket."