McCain's brother: 'No excuse' for calling 911 to complain about traffic

WASHINGTON - The brother of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain tells WTOP he "could not be more remorseful" after calling 911 to complain about traffic.

Alexandria resident Joe McCain says he was driving home from a campaign event in Philadelphia when he got stuck in traffic on the Wilson Bridge around 2 a.m. Saturday.

"It was some sort of bridge test, 'cause like a good boy, I tuned into WTOP like everybody is supposed to do," McCain says. "When it got to be about 30 to 35 minutes, that's when I got very frustrated."

So McCain dialed 911 to try and "figure out exactly what was going on."

Operator: 911, state your emergency.

Joe McCain: Well, it's not an emergency, but do you know why on one side at the damn drawbridge of 95 traffic is stopped for 15 minutes and yet traffic's coming the other way?

Operator: Sir, are you calling 911 to complain about traffic?

McCain then uttered an expletive and hung up the phone.

McCain tells WTOP he thought his cell phone was on mute.

"I never would have said that directly to any police officer," McCain says. "It was just frustration at the traffic...It's a human thing, but unforgivable, nonetheless."

McCain admits his decision to call 911 wasn't rational.

"I don't know why I called 911," McCain says. "I've never called 911 before. I guess I thought they might have some explanation."

After dialing 911, McCain called Alexandria Police to ask them about the traffic on the bridge, calling the situation an "absurdity."

Alexandria Police: Did you just call 911 in reference to this? 911 is used for emergencies only, not because you're just sitting in traffic.

Joe McCain: This isn't traffic. This is a pretty serious malfunction.... Do we just sit here indefinitely while this bridge malfunctions?

Alexandria Police: Honestly sir, we have no control over the bridge...maybe you can contact VDOT or the Maryland Department of Transportation.

A former newspaper reporter who covered the police beat, McCain says he will be writing an apology to the 911 operator and Alexandria Police.

While McCain hasn't spoken to his brother about the incident, he says Sen. McCain is "not going to be happy about it, for sure."

McCain tells WTOP he is withdrawing from all McCain campaign activities because of the incident.

"I just feel terrible about having hurt the campaign over this incident," McCain says.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)