Deputy on motorcycle nabs unlicensed driver exceeding speed limit by 30 mph

A Leesburg man was arrested for driving without a license for the second time after speeding by about 30 miles per hour.

A deputy observed the driver of a silver passenger car, later identified as 48-year-old Michael Sydnor, driving northbound on South U.S. Hwy. 27 near Bridges Road in Leesburg around 2:46 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He estimated the vehicle to be passing others at about 85 mph in a 55-mph zone. 

Radar confirmed the vehicle to be going 86 mph, leading the deputy to conduct a traffic stop as it continued past him. The silver car came to a stop near Windmill Drive, and the deputy dismounted his motorcycle to approach from the passenger side window to speak with the driver, the report said. 

Once at the window, the deputy saw Sydnor in the driver’s seat. He explained the reason for the stop and requested his license, registration and proof of insurance. As Sydnor searched for this information, he told the deputy that he did not have a valid license. The deputy stated that he needed something that had his name on it, and he instead provided his Florida ID card, the report said. 

The deputy then returned to his motorcycle to run this information through law enforcement databases. These were used to confirm that Sydnor had not had a valid license since 2018. He also had one prior conviction for driving while his license was suspended, the report said. 

After learning this, the deputy went back to the driver’s door and asked Sydnor to step away from the driver’s seat. He complied and was subsequently placed into custody, the report said. 

Sydnor was charged with driving while license suspended (second offense) and issued a citation for speeding. He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.