Saturday, October 24, 2009 @ 1:58 PM Author: clarinda

		'I was surprised and stunned that that would happen in the city of Dallas because we are a very, very diverse city,' said Chief Kunkle. -- PHOTO: AP

CHICAGO - A TEXAS police chief apologised on Friday after at least 39 people received traffic tickets because they couldn't speak English.

'I was surprised and stunned that that would happen in the city of Dallas because we are a very, very diverse city,' Dallas police chief David Kunkle said at a press conference. I apologise to the Spanish speaking, Hispanic community.'

The incident came to light after a woman went to court to challenge a ticket issued by a young officer which cited her for being a 'non-English speaking driver'.

Chief Kunkle said his department reviewed its records and found that 38 similar tickets had been written in the past three years by six different officers.

All fees will be refunded and the police will ask for all convictions to be reversed, he said.

The department is also considering dereliction of duty charges against the officers involved and the sergeants who reviewed the citations. -- AFP