Legislation allowing plainclothes police officers to give speeding tickets was rejected by the House of Delegates.

The proposal was derailed Monday after Delegate Roslyn Tyler of Sussex County said female motorists could be endangered by criminals impersonating police officers.

A former state trooper, Delegate Bill Carrico of Grayson County, also spoke against the bill. He said it would be confusing for a public that's accustomed to only getting speeding tickets from uniformed officers.

The bill's sponsor, Delegate John Cosgrove of Chesapeake, said plainclothes officers already are allowed to pull motorists over for violations other than speeding.

The bill was rejected on a voice vote.