Judge Caprio's dismisses case after learning nurse ran red light after 16-hour double shift at hospital

Feeling burned out due to overwork is normal, but it does not give us an excuse to break the rules. However, sometimes, the best way to teach someone a lifelong lesson is by showing compassion rather than punishing them. Known for showing mercy, retired American Judge and TV personality Frank Caprio (@therealfrankcaprio) kept the spirit of humanity alive during his time as the Chief Judge of the municipal court of Providence. A nurse named Sally Moscat had to appear in Rhode Island’s famous court for flouting traffic rules. The video from the incident on Caught in Providence’s YouTube channel showed the jurist and his associate Inspector Carey’s timeless reaction, which is still winning hearts online.

After “miraculously” pronouncing the hardworking nurse’s name correctly, Judge Caprio asked her if she was a student. The newly graduated Moscat responded, stating she worked at Rhode Island Hospital as a nurse and that her occupation brought her a ticket. Upon further questioning about her crossing the red light, she tried to excuse herself, mistakenly believing there was a yield sign near Eddie and Dudley’s, where she broke the traffic rule.

At this point, Judge Caprio asked her again if she believed it was a yield sign and not a stop sign. However, Moscat abandoned her initial stance and admitted she knew it was nothing but a stop sign. “I was doing one of those fast turns. This was at 5:30 in the evening. I just finished doing a 16-hour shift, and I was trying to go home,” the nurse explained. The jurist was surprised upon hearing she had such long working hours. Following this, the CCTV footage of the incident was played in the court, showing Moscat driving past the red light without a doubt that she did not stop.

She tried to cover up her “double shift disaster” by jokingly saying again that she yielded. To which Judge Caprio had a stern response, “Who did you yield to? There was nobody coming. Were you yielding to the birds in the area?” The nurse could not make any further excuses and went on to accept her mistake. “I saw the light turning yellow, so I was like trying to catch it before it went to red. I didn’t think you would have the video,” Moscat bluntly told the court. Judge Caprio looked at Inspector Carey, who was standing right beside his chair. “Surprise,” the SWAT officer replied rhetorically, stating she was definitely guilty of driving through the red light. However, the officials took into consideration what she does for work.

“She has a much tougher job than I have,” Inspector Carey opined. Judge Caprio agreed with the officer and asked Moscat to thank him for requesting the dismissal of the case. “While Inspector Carey is as tough as nails on one half, the other half is he’s very compassionate,” the jurist added. The 83-year-old then brought humor to the serious conversation by introducing his other aide, Inspector Quinn. “Unlike the other inspector we have who’s really kind of tough,” said the TV personality, sparking laughter in the courtroom.

Inspector Quinn agreed with his colleagues and recommended the same, letting Moscat off the case. After the formal dismissal announcement, Inspector Carey intervened to say, “I have a heart of a pea; he has a heart of a walnut; it’s all good.” Standing beside him, Inspector Quinn whispered, “It’s a blueberry,” bringing joy to everyone present, including the 2.2 million viewers of the heartwarming courtroom exchange. People in the comments appreciated the judge’s reaction toward the nurse.

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