I think getting a ticket for not speaking english, sounds petty to me.
I was never pulled over, but I have rented cars in Italy and Greece, with an international driver’s license. I don’t speak greek and my Italian is barely passable.
And that relates to this case, how?
You were a tourist, she has been in our country 30 years.
Presumably, you'd have your international driver's license with you, she didn't have her driver's license.