By Katherine Gregg
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A moment of pique on a state highway has provided one state lawmaker with a reminder that public officials -- especially those with legislative license plates -- are always in the public eye.

On Wednesday, driver Karen LaFlamme sent state Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence, this e-mail: "I saw you driving on the Route 6/10 connector yesterday, August 25th at approximately 4:45 pm. You were driving a green mini-van with the RI House plate 11. You were talking away on a cell phone and cut someone off while changing lanes. When that driver tried to get your attention, you gave them the middle finger (and continued to talk on the phone, while flashing your finger and driving)."

"I realize it is not illegal to talk on the phone while driving but you could have caused an accident (mainly by hitting me) because you were engaged in a phone call in addition to some sort of fight with [another] driver,'' wrote LaFlamme, who copied Political Scene on the e-mail.

Diaz, who is the vice chair for the Democratic State Committee and first female Dominican American elected to state office, responded to LaFlamme with a written apology that began: "I thank you for contacting me, Your comment is very is valid...It was the first time [I] exhibited this behavior [in] private or in public.''

She said the other driver, who she described as an upset, middle-aged woman, slowed down next to her. Not understanding why, Diaz said, she put on her directional signal and "moved to another line because I though[t] I was [in] her way...The driver moved in front of me and was moving her arms inside the car. I couldn't identify what was going on inside the car. Again the person slow[ed] down in front of me.

So, "I moved to another line and ....slow[ed] down too see the person and then my phone rang, it was my daughter... [The other driver] pointed [to] my car plate to get my attention and show[ed] me her middle finger. ...At that point I [confess] that I lost my control and I showed my finger too.''

"I lost myself yesterday,'' she wrote LaFlamme. "I was more concern[ed] not to be involve[d] in a car accident [which] Thank God didn't happen.'' But, "just because I am driving a car paid [for by] myself, with state plate indicating which district I am representing, people assume that I am getting things free. Also people [make] me responsible for all [their] frustration.''

Diaz said she was not complaining, just explaining: "I [am] just a human like anybody.''
"When I got home,'' she said, she told her children she felt terrible about what happened and promised to never again "let anybody make me [lose] my control.''

In a brief telephone call on Friday, Diaz said LaFlamme evidently did not see the behavior by the other driver that led up to the incident, but she nevertheless regrets how she responded, and "would never repeat it.''