JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — A Kenner man was arrested after driving around Jefferson Parish with red and blue lights flashing on his car.
Kenner Police said they saw a man, identified as 29-year-old Eldin Pineda Vasquez, using the lights on Veterans Boulevard.
Officers said at one point Vasquez followed closely behind another driver in his white Civic, according to our partners at Nola.com. A nearby officer noticed Vasquez's red and blue lights and suspected he was trying to pull over the car.
The officer then flashed their lights and arrested Vasquez for impersonating an officer.
When pulled over, he first told the officer that he was an Uber driver and used the lights so that customers could recognize him. Then he said he was on his way home and had no explanation for why he turned on the flashing lights, Nola.com reported.
Vasquez was detained on Tuesday, Dec. 12 and was also booked for using improper lighting.
Kenner police offered some tips on what to do if you're suspicious about a traffic stop:
- Slow down
- Drive to a well-lit area with people around
- Call 911 to verify an officer is trying to stop you
In Louisiana, flashing lights of any kind are only allowed on authorized emergency vehicles, on school buses, or as turn signals.
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