Hispanic Driver Stopped for Tinted Windows Ends Up in Immigration Proceedings

Traffic Stop Over Tinted Windows

Case Escalates to Immigration

Family Questions Procedure

A driver on his way to work was stopped by a Florida Highway Patrol officer on March 13.

The stop occurred at exit 27 on Interstate 4, heading toward Tampa near Davenport, initially for a traffic violation.

Why it matters: The case highlights how a minor infraction can escalate into more complex processes, including immigration checks.

Tinted Windows Traffic Stop in Florida Raises Concerns

“He was stopped for a minor violation—tinted windows—in Florida, but the case ended up in ICE’s hands. His family says he had TPS, a work permit, and an active asylum case.” https://t.co/LR9FSNFQpi

— N+ UNIVISION TAMPA BAY (@nmasunivTAMPA) March 18, 2026

Víctor Javier Pérez Díaz, 58, was detained while driving his truck to work.

According to the officer, the reason was the level of tint on the vehicle’s windows, as reported by Univision.

His son explained that the justification was based on how dark the windows appeared, but questioned the procedure.

“Those were the windows the truck came with,” he said, adding that no technical measurement was conducted.

Florida law allows such stops. Statute 316.2953 permits officers to pull over a vehicle for tinted windows without requiring another violation.

It is considered a non-criminal traffic infraction.

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Since 2025, fines for this violation range between $116 and $150 per window.

In this case, however, the stop did not end with a simple citation—becoming a Florida traffic stop immigration case.

Family Questions Procedure After Data Check

Pérez Díaz’s son believes the stop went beyond the initial violation.

“I do think they checked the truck’s plate,” he said, adding that they may have identified his father’s Latino surname.

According to his account, this may have influenced the decision to detain him further.

Pérez Díaz entered the United States in 2023 under humanitarian parole, according to his family.

He later applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was approved.

He also initiated an asylum process and had a valid work permit and driver’s license at the time of the stop.

“If you have TPS, a permit, asylum—you’re legal,” his son said, noting that the situation changes if those protections are removed.

Minor Traffic Stops and Their Link to Immigration

Data from the Florida Highway Patrol shows at least 4,620 arrests stemming from stops related to “defective equipment.”

This category includes issues such as broken lights or illegal window tint.

In these cases, the initial violation is not the reason for arrest—but it becomes the starting point.

Organizations such as the ACLU and the American Immigration Council have documented this pattern.

They note that minor infractions are often a gateway to interaction with the immigration system.

The process typically begins with verification of a driver’s license and personal data.

If alerts or inconsistencies appear, the case can escalate to immigration authorities.

In Florida, this dynamic changed in May 2025.

The state authorized highway patrol officers to receive training in immigration enforcement functions.

Under this framework, an officer can initiate immigration proceedings following a traffic stop.

Federal authorities do not need to intervene directly.

Similar cases have been reported in Polk County and Lake Worth Beach.

In those areas, minor traffic violations have led to transfers to immigration detention centers.

The Florida traffic stop immigration case underscores growing concerns about the intersection of local policing and federal immigration enforcement.