This news story sounds like the beginning of a country music song. He called the cops on his cheatin’ wife. Unfortunately, it is not a song.
Glendale, Ariz. police are investigating Dave Banks’ claims that his wife of 17 years, Traci Banks, has cheated on him at least seven or eight times in the past 10 years.
In Arizona, adultery is a Class 3 misdemeanor, which carries the possibility of a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
“It’s certainly much less of a reported criminal violation than a family crime or a sex crime,” said Bret Coombs, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department.
Sources say, Banks had no qualms about turning in his wife, with whom he has 2 sons.
Reportedly, Dave Banks first suspected his wife’s infidelity when he noticed that she had used contraception even though he has undergone a vasectomy.
“I’m fixed and we had a bunch of rubbers left over – and they all disappeared,” he says.
He said one detective told him to drop the case, saying: “It’s about time she got on with her life and you get on with yours.”
His response: “I told him he ought to mind his own business and get on with his job.” He continued, “How do they get to pick and choose which laws they can and can’t enforce?”
Traci Banks says she is more amused than concerned by the possibility of being prosecuted for adultery. “Everybody thinks it’s funny, everybody.”
According to sources, Traci admits to engaging in sexual relations outside of her marriage, but insists that their relationship has no future, so she does not feel ‘bad or guilty’ about her actions.
Prosecutors will decide this week whether or not to pursue charges against Mrs. Banks.
“If they used this law all the time, maybe women or men would think twice about going and jumping in the sack and throwing away their marriage,” one investigative officer said.
Although archaic, nearly half of all 50 states have a law on the books criminalizing adultery.
In Maryland, guilty parties must pay a $10 fine, while in Virginia, adultery remains a Class 4 misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of a $250 fine.
In 2012, should committing adultery still be an actual crime? And, would you have your spouse arrested if you had proof that she or he had sex outside of your marriage?
