“English” for the Letter of the Law
License plates, Exhausts, Mirrors, Revving, and Other Probable Ticket-Generating Items
By Florida Night Train
04-30-2025
It was around 11:35 PM on a lively Thursday evening in Dunedin, Florida, on January 2, 2025. I was just a few moments away from home after a fun ride with the guys. As fate would have it, I found myself next to a spirited little sports car filled with a group of energetic young folks who were enthusiastically urging me to rev my engine. I thought, “Why not?” We were stopped at a traffic light in a bustling area, so I obliged—but I kept it reasonable. Their excited gestures showed I had made their night, and we exchanged friendly thumbs-up as our brief interaction came to a close with them revving their engine as well.
In what felt like a flash, my attention was drawn to a white unmarked SUV that swiftly maneuvered toward the intersection. A tingle of instinct warned me that the occupants were keeping a keen eye on me, even though I couldn’t see their faces. When the light turned green, I crossed the intersection, only to catch a glimpse of the SUV making a U-turn in my rearview mirror, following me all the way to my driveway. My heart dropped when it lit up its patrol car lights for everyone in my neighborhood to see.
Thoughts raced through my mind: What did I do wrong? Stay cool! I reminded myself to remain calm and respectful—I truly respect law enforcement service men and women who navigate challenging situations daily. As the deputy sheriff approached, I could tell he was clearly frustrated and seemed prepared to make his point. Keeping my composure, I greeted him with respect. He started off with a nice comment about my bike but quickly pivoted to complaints about my loud exhaust, claiming it was against the law. I was stunned and tried to interject, but he quickly cut me off with, “Your mirrors aren’t right!”
I attempted to speak again, only to be interrupted once more. Now, it was about my license plate not being visible. Despite my efforts to engage in a civil conversation instead of a heated debate, it became evident that his mind was made up. Raising his voice in exasperation, he declared, “You guys are too loud and out of control, and it needs to stop!” Two other deputies had already arrived on the scene. They seemed more understanding and sympathetic, almost as if they could sense my discomfort, but the first deputy remained fixated on his mission.
Through it all, I maintained my courtesy and respect towards all of them. Ultimately, while he stopped me due to noise, I ended up with a ticket for supposedly a license plate that could not be seen, which he insisted was not clearly visible. After I was served with a $116 fine, I decided I wanted to turn this experience into something constructive, so I reached out to Attorney Fran Haasch to discuss an editorial. She referred me to Attorney Chris Blaine of www.blainelawpa.com who turned out to be a fantastic ally.
Chris is more than just a lawyer; he’s a passionate advocate dedicated to making a real difference in public policy and law. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from St. Petersburg College, setting a solid foundation for his journey into the intricacies of governance and legal advocacy. He further honed his skills by obtaining a Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law, equipping him to navigate the legal landscape with meticulous detail.
What makes Chris truly stand out is his unique background as a Combat Veteran. He served in both the Oklahoma and Florida Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This invaluable firsthand experience has instilled in him a profound sense of duty, leadership, resilience, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and communities.
As a fifth-generation Floridian, Chris embodies a rich connection to the state’s history, culture, and people. This heritage fuels his passion for fostering positive growth and progress in Florida and beyond. With an unwavering dedication to justice and service, he utilizes his diverse experiences to advocate passionately for his clients, ensuring they receive the best legal representation possible.
With Chris on my side, I felt a renewed sense of incisive expertise I could use. He deftly 
navigated the bureaucratic hurdles we faced, from rescheduling court hearings to managing delays in obtaining video footage. It turns out that for a license plate to be a violation, it must be invisible from a distance of ~100 feet—something we discovered was not the case in this scenario. In the video, it was indeed visible from that mark! We also heard the dispatcher stating information that could only have come from reading my license plate.
After discussing our concerns with Chris, we speculated that the deputy might argue he read my plate when it was under 100 feet away. It seemed reasonable to simply pay the fine and take it as a lesson learned.
In the end, the main takeaway is this: Always strive to be aware of your surroundings and avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. Embrace every experience, learn from it, and remain optimistic about the future. Every challenge can become an opportunity for growth! Just ride safe. Not like a bat out of hell. Be considerate. If not, it will likely ruin it for the rest of us. Remember that when we need help, these service men and women are always the first ones there.
Sources:
Attorney Chris Blaine
Pictures – Florida Night Train
www.facebook.com/floridanighttrain
