Florida Man Pulled Over By Police for Playing N.W.A.
According to the Miami New Times, Cesar Baldelomar was pulled over on Thanksgiving day for playing N.W.A’s 1988 anthem ‘F– tha Police.’
Baldelomar, a Harvard grad attending law school at Florida International University, was driving to his mother’s house on Thanksgiving day when the song began playing at a traffic light. Nearby Officer Harold Garzon didn’t like what he was hearing.
“Really? You’re really playing that song? Pull over,” Garzon said, according to Baldelomar.
At that point, the officer told Baldelomar that it was illegal to play loud music within 25 feet of another person. However, being that Baldelomar is a law student, he knew better.
“In 2012, the State Supreme Court struck down any law banning loud music,” he said. “I knew that because it was a case I had actually studied in law school.”
Garzon called for backup and asked Baldelomar’s proof of insurance. When he pulled up his insurance on his phone, the officer said, “It’s got to be paper,” which is incorrect since Florida made it legal to show proof electronically.
Three tickets were issued, one for not proving insurance, one for having an out-of-state license plate and another for not wearing a seat belt. Baldelomar claims he was wearing one during the entire exchange and plans to fight the tickets.
“I’m educated. I know my rights, and I speak English, so I can fight this,” said Baldelomar. “But what about when this happens to someone who’s not so lucky? Policing has to change in this country.”
Garzon, a 17-year police veteran, has 16 internal affairs cases currently against.