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Man Told By Judge Not To Drive, Arrested For Driving After Court Hearing

Habitual traffic offender earns 50th arrest in Sarasota County for various infractions.

A Sarasota man apparently cannot help himself from getting behind the wheel of a car despite being ordered not to.

Lashay Alexander Smith, 46, 2441 Central Ave., Sarasota, appeared Tuesday before a judge for contempt charges due to driving with a suspended license and was admonished not to drive, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies watched Smith leaving the courtroom only to drive away in a white Mercury sedan and was pulled over on Golf Street where he was taken into custody and for the sixth time was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Smith celebrated his 50 arrest in Sarasota County by being booked into Sarasota County Jail where he is being held on $1,500 bond. The habitual traffic offender's history of charges also include false imprisonment, battery, selling and possessing rock cocaine, according to the sheriff's office.

About 25 of those arrests were for probation violations and contempt of court, according to the sheriff's office.

ron December 4, 2012 at 10:10 pm
If he was not ment to drive...God would have not given him a vehicle....and it is only 50 arrests...geezus give the guy a break.Let's take up a collection and raise the $1500. to get him home by the Holidays.
Richard M. Swier December 5, 2012 at 11:36 am
Typical of a person with no respect for the law. He believes he is above the laws of this land. This kind of behavior is seen in others, some at the highest levels of our government. This is a nation of laws not of men. I hope the judge brings him back into court and enforces our laws.
HONEST MOM December 7, 2012 at 06:55 pm
In first place what is the LAW....first of all even some officers are corrupt so they should follow their own laws to begin...second of all EVERYBODY has necessities and here in this country you have to drive to get to places....i dont bealieve you follow all the laws....
sharon January 28, 2013 at 06:37 pm
arrested 50 times in Sarasota County? honey, it's time to move, jus sayin

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Hawkeye2you June 17, 2013 at 11:57 am
Mark, this simply makes absolutely no sense at all. Matter of fact, It's 'safer' to back into a spotRead More than pulling forward. Mark, prior to backing in a spot, you already have a full visual of in front of you. Then, as you go to leave,. it's much safer to pull out, than to back out. Mark, you have this wrong pal and I'd love to see the data which lead you to believe that it's dangerous to back into a spot, versus pulling into it. I'm going to challenge you on this one Mark, and will do so when I go to court when I purposely get a ticket.
Susan Skovronek June 17, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Does the convenience of reading a license plate supersede the safety of backing in and then headingRead More out?
Bill June 17, 2013 at 01:56 pm
Maybe not. I agree on the safety issue. The question needs to be, does the need of the police to beRead More able to read the plates supersede the safety concern? To be sure, there will be the usual crowd complaining about government (any government) intrusion, yada, yada, but that's the point that needs to be settled. If the police would agree that seeing the plates isn't necessary, then the entire issue would go away.
Mark R Willetts June 9, 2013 at 01:53 pm
Whoever hit her was probably from a rich family, so they ( the LEOs ) aren't gonna do anything aboutRead More it.
Sheila Burns June 9, 2013 at 02:57 pm
Try accepting that it was their time to go. No matter the way or the time, what will be will be.Read More It's not about blaming or getting "justice", death always happens when it is meant to...there are no accidents, only the circumstances and means that come into play to assist the transition of those who are leaving this world, in order for them to reach the next. Your grief is understandable, I am sorry for your great loss.