Republican congressional candidate Martin Hyde is apologizing for his behavior during a Valentine's Day traffic stop in Sarasota.
The outspoken local business owner and former pro soccer player is challenging U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan in Florida's 16th district. And love was definitely not in the air when he was pulled over on Feb. 14.
Police Officer Julia Beskin stopped Hyde on Feb. 14. She told him he'd been texting and speeding near Fruitville Road and N Euclid Avenue in Sarasota.
A laser reading confirmed Hyde was going 57 in a 40, according to the Sarasota Police Department.
Shortly after Beskin walked up to Hyde's SUV, he asked “You know who I am, right?”
"Yes sir, I do," responded Beskin, who had been with Sarasota PD for seven years.
In their initial interaction, Hyde did not immediately provide registration when asked – but he did show it later, after the citations were written. He was cited for speeding, texting and driving and failure to provide the registration upon request. The three citations came with a combined total of nearly $500 in fines.