TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida trooper cited a man Monday afternoon for driving a car with the Florida Highway Patrol's "black and tan" paint color scheme, according to an incident report.
The trooper spotted the Crown Victoria car driven by Robert Bohan, 60, just after 2:30 p.m. on East Fowler Avenue near Interstate 275, FHP said.
After pulling the car over, the trooper says they approached Bohan and told him that it's illegal to buff off the black paint that was put on the car when it was sold at auction and have the color scheme of a marked FHP unit.
Tampa driver accused of imitating FHP car
Bohran reportedly replied that he didn't do that and had no idea. However, troopers previously stopped him in February and June of this year, and he was told it's against Florida law to drive a car with the "black and tan" color scheme, according to the incident report.
The law states, in part: "Unless specifically authorized by the Florida Highway Patrol, a person in the state shall not color or cause to be colored any motor vehicle or motorcycle the same or similar color as the color or colors so prescribed for the Florida Highway Patrol."
People who violate the law could be punished with a first-degree misdemeanor.
Bohan was issued a notice to appear in violation of the law. His car was then towed, the FHP report reads.
Earlier this month, a woman in South Florida was arrested after she was allegedly caught driving a car made to look like an FHP vehicle. The car had a tan logo painted on its side, and she claimed she "fell in love" with the colors.
