POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Monday afternoon drive ended in an arrest for an Avon Park woman after a Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over her green Ford sedan on Interstate 4. The stop occurred on March 2nd along the eastbound lanes near Mile Marker 52 in Davenport.
When the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver, 39-year-old Mary Josie Martinez, immediately acknowledged her lack of a valid license.
“I know I can’t drive, but I haven’t driven since last year, and I was headed to the store,” Martinez told the deputy. “I promise I won’t drive again.”
Despite her claim of heading to a store, Martinez was stopped approximately 45 miles away from her home in Avon Park.
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During the roadside investigation, authorities confirmed that Martinez’s driver’s license had been canceled roughly one month ago.
Martinez admitted she was aware of the status, explaining that the suspension stemmed from unpaid traffic fines. She further noted that she had not yet paid a citation related to a previous crash in Orlando and mentioned an additional ticket received in Highlands County that is due in April.
Regarding the outstanding financial obligations, Martinez told the deputy she intended to resolve the matter quickly, stating she was “paying everything tomorrow.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office took Martinez into custody at the scene. She was transported to jail and officially charged with Driving While License Suspended/Revoked.
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