The Houston Police Department is investigating a case in which a woman was reportedly able to get a speeding ticket dismissed after posting her plea about the incident on Facebook.
    
According to television station KTRK, a woman identifying herself as a chief investigator for the Houston Fire Department responded to the Facebook request, saying she knew the police officer involved and offered to help.
    
The investigator later posted on the popular social networking site that the officer involved had "ripped up" the ticket, according KTRK. 

Legal analyst Joel Androphy said such actions could be deemed a crime.

"By destroying tickets, you're tampering with evidence, with government records. They're no different than court documents," Androphy explained.

According to the Houston Firefighter's Union, the person who posted the request is the daughter of a veteran fire fighter who recently died. A union spokesperson said she was in the process of making funeral arrangements for her father when she was ticketed by police.
    
Androphy said that had the woman explained her case in court, a judge likely would have shown leniency. 

"No matter how sympathetic we should feel toward the loss of the young lady, crimes been committed.  Most of us can't get rid of our tickets this way," he said.

Police officials have the case under review and are trying to determine if any laws were broken.