A Tavares woman with a history of license violations was arrested for driving without a valid license for the third time in three years.
Police observed a silver Hyundai traveling west on Pine Ridge Dairy Road at around 10:13 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department.
The officer ran a check on the vehicle’s license plate and discovered that the registered owner, 26-year-old Nyasia Tiara Lashau Peterson, had a suspended license. She had failed to pay traffic fines in October and November 2022, and she failed to comply with a traffic summons in March 2023. In addition, the vehicle’s registration had expired in January, the report said.
As the officer maneuvered his patrol car behind the Hyundai, Peterson quickly pulled into a driveway and parked. The officer pulled in behind her and initiated a traffic stop. When asked for her license and registration, Peterson said she didn’t have her license with her and further explained she didn’t know if she had a valid license because she had a ticket she had not paid, according to the report.
While speaking with Peterson, the officer noticed the smell of burnt marijuana emitting from her vehicle’s interior. Peterson denied using any form of marijuana or hemp, but she admitted someone who was in the car earlier did use marijuana, the report said.
A search of Peterson’s driving history showed that she had two prior convictions for driving with a suspended license in April and November 2021. Further investigation revealed Peterson was stopped in March 2023 by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. She later confirmed she was driving at the time of the stop and was advised of her license being suspended, the report said.
At the end of the officer’s investigation, Peterson was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended with knowledge (3rd offense). She was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.
