Authorities: FHP trooper wrote fake tickets

MIAMI (AP) — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper based in South Florida has been arrested on charges of official misconduct, after authorities say he wrote hundreds of fake citations to drivers.

Paul C. Lawrence is accused of trying to increase the number of citations he issued by writing bogus tickets.

More than 200 traffic tickets he issued since November have been dismissed, and there may be more.

Authorities grew suspicious when the ticketed motorists began complaining they knew nothing about the citations. Prosecutors say Lawrence had used information from drivers he previously stopped to draft new tickets.

A spokesman for the FHP says they don’t operate on a quota system.

Lawrence could not be reached for comment.