In October 2023, a man in DeSoto County, Florida, was cited for painting “Booty Patrol” on the sides and back of his truck. The colors and lettering resembled a real patrol car closely enough that it drew attention.
The sheriff’s office asked Facebook for help identifying the vehicle, then found the driver the next day. The charge: violating a state statute (FSS 316.2397) against making a vehicle look like law enforcement. Among locals, opinion was split over whether it was worth county resources.
From Jake
In Florida you’re free to dress up your truck however you like. That’s expression too. But the moment you call it a “Patrol,” you cross a line. Fake patrol cars get used in actual crimes across the country, which is why every state draws this line in law. However silly the wording, the statute only looks at the paint job and the lettering. Locals argued over whether the county should spend money on it — but the deputy just wrote the ticket. Florida’s freedom stops right at the edge of the statute.