LAKELAND, Fla. — A 57-year-old Kissimmee man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 4 after a routine license plate check led to charges involving a suspended driver’s license, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred near Lakeland when a deputy patrolling I-4 ran the tag of a blue Kia Forte around 2:15 p.m. on July 29.
Discrepancy in Driver Identification
The vehicle's registration indicated it belonged to Robert William Grear, whose Florida driver’s license was listed as suspended. Upon spotting Grear behind the wheel, the deputy initiated a traffic stop. When asked for identification, Grear handed over a Pennsylvania driver’s license. He told the officer that he had never been issued a Florida license.
However, a background check conducted by law enforcement proved otherwise. Records showed that Florida issued Grear a license in 2015. The record further indicated that the license was later suspended after Grear failed to pay a traffic citation in Louisiana. This discrepancy between his claim and official state records formed the basis for the subsequent arrest.
Residency Violations and Arrest
Grear told deputies he had previously moved back to Pennsylvania before returning to live in Florida in October 2025. Despite this explanation, law enforcement proceeded with an arrest based on the evidence gathered during the stop. Grear was transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Processing Center.
He was charged with two second-degree misdemeanors: driving with a license from another state while his Florida license is suspended, and a violation of driver’s license residency requirements. These charges reflect strict enforcement of state laws regarding valid identification for operating vehicles within Florida jurisdictions.
