Fla. trooper accused of writing bogus tickets

(AP) — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper based in South Florida has been arrested on charges of official misconduct, after authorities said he wrote hundreds of fake citations to drivers. Paul C. Lawrence was accused of trying to increase the number of citations he issued by writing bogus tickets. More than 200 traffic tickets he issued since November have been dismissed, and there may be more.

Authorities grew suspicious when the ticketed motorists began complaining they knew nothing about the citations. Prosecutors said Lawrence had used information from drivers he previously stopped to draft new tickets.

A spokesman for the FHP said they don't operate on a quota system.

Lawrence could not be reached for comment.

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Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com