A Wildwood man working as a mechanic was arrested for driving without a license while testing a vehicle’s exhaust system on the road.
A deputy observed a black Ford F1-50 with a window down on U.S. 301 in Wildwood around 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He noticed the driver, 50-year-old Nain Mercado-Vieyra, was not wearing a seatbelt, and stopped the vehicle at the intersection of County Roads 462 and 205.
The deputy explained the reason for the stop and asked Mercado-Vieyra about his driver’s license. Mercado-Vieyra explained that he was driving because he worked as a mechanic and was trying to repair the exhaust system on the vehicle. Still, he was unable to provide a passport, work visa or any other documentation allowing him to legally drive in the United States, the report said.
A subsequent check of his driving history revealed he did not have a driver’s license record. He had never been issued a license, the report said.
Mercado-Vieyra was arrested on charge of operate motor vehicle without valid license. The native of Mexico was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center with bond set at $150.