VIDEO: Wrong-way driver sideswipes Tampa police car on I-4, tries to say husband did it

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A wrong-way driver was stopped on Interstate 4 early Saturday after narrowly missing a serious collision with a police car and putting multiple other people in danger, Tampa police said.

Officers said they received a report just after 2:30 a.m. of a driver heading the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of I-4. They quickly found a silver Toyota Camry traveling westbound in the inside eastbound lane at around 60 mph.3 dead, 6 injured after driver makes illegal U-turn, travels wrong way on I-95: FHP

Tampa police tried to stop the driver, identified as Kristian Beall, 24, but said Beall refused to pull over. Video provided by the police department showed the fleeing driver sideswiping a marked police car and continuing to drive the wrong way on the interstate.

Officers enlisted help from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and were able to stop the Camry using a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver. The Camry was then boxed in by both Tampa police and FHP vehicles.

“I am incredibly proud of the quick and decisive action taken by our officers and our partners at the Florida Highway Patrol,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “Their seamless collaboration and dedication to public safety allowed them to stop this individual before there were serious, if not fatal, injuries.”

Body camera video showed officers telling Beall to exit out of the passenger side of the Camry due to the driver’s side door being damaged.

“Do you realize you’re going the wrong way on the interstate?” an officer asked her.

“On this interstate?” she replied, later saying, “No… this car? Are you serious?”

Police continued to question Beall, and at one point, she stated that her husband was driving her home.

“What do you mean? You were driving home,” an officer told her.

“No, he’s driving us home,” she said again as she and the officer were standing on the side of the interstate.

An FHP trooper who was nearby confirmed no one else was inside the Toyota Camry.

While being questioned, Beall told officers she had gone to two bars and had a “full drink” at both. She was administered a field sobriety test and failed, police said.

According to the police department, her breath alcohol content (BrAC) was measured at .199 and .202, both more than double the legal limit of 0.08.

Beall was arrested and charged with DUI, aggravated fleeing to elude, and fleeing to elude at high speed. She was taken to Orient Road Jail.

“There is absolutely no excuse for driving under the influence,” Bercaw said. “There are many safe and affordable alternatives available, including ride-sharing services, taxis, and designating a sober driver. If you choose to have adult beverages, make the right choice to protect yourself and everyone else on the road.”

‘Should be fined’: Highway Patrol caught using this sneaky tactic

New South Wales Highway Patrol came under fire recently after one of its cars was spotted with L-plates equipped.

Photo: Facebook/Instagram

New South Wales Police has recently been criticised after an Instagram user spotted a Highway Patrol car wearing learner plates while driving.

RELATED: How to spot an unmarked Australian police car

Initially posted by user “its_called_straya”, the BMW was posted driving on L-plates with the caption “when you see the 5-0, but they’re just learning”.

The comments section garnered several negative opinions, with many criticising the police officers for their sneaky tactics while on patrol.

“They should be fined and hit with three demerits, as any normal public citizen would under the law in NSW,” wrote one user.

“Yet, if your mum drives down to the local shop with your L-plates on, she can get a fine? Why can’t they,” said another.

“I lost my licence due to not having P-plates. Where is the difference here?” was simply stated another way.

Was this a case of a new police officer learning to drive while on the job? Or a matter of going incognito to catch drivers doing the wrong thing?

In Australia, police officers are required to have a full, unrestricted licence before they can get behind the wheel of any police vehicle.

If they were trying to blend in with traffic as a means to catch people breaking road rules, it would not be the first time this tactic has been used. In fact, New South Wales Highway Patrol has come under fire numerous times before.

In 2017, an unmarked Ford Falcon XR6 was spotted wearing green P-plates after it was posted to the official police Facebook page. However, the officers involved later claimed it was a harmless joke on social media.

“The car was not used operationally, and using P-plates on Highway Patrol cars is not a tactic used by police to detect speeding drivers,” said a NSW Police spokesperson.

Photo: Facebook

In 2015, a photo posted to social media showed a black VF Holden Commodore unmarked NSW Highway Patrol car with red P-plates.

Then, in 2013, an unmarked VF Commodore was the subject of an internal investigation by Victoria Police after it was spotted with the popular “My Family” sticker and L-plates on it while pulling over motorists.

At the time, on Fairfax Radio, senior police member Superintendent Graeme Collins said that it was a “practical joke” among officers.

“I can say wholeheartedly that it’s not Victoria Police policy, it’s certainly not our practice, it’s not professional, and it’s not condoned,” Superintendent Collins said.

As for the police officer spotted recently, NSW Police told Yahoo Australia that the police car was at a community event and was showing young drivers how to correctly attach L and P-plates to their cars.

With so many ‘practical jokes’ among the Highway Patrol, is what they are doing illegal?

Photo: Facebook

Is it illegal to have P and L-plates on your car as a fully licensed driver?

It is illegal in most states to have L or P-plates on your car as a fully licensed driver. Drivers in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania will all be fined up to $250 for forgetting to remove L and P-plates while on their full licence.

However, in New South Wales and South Australia, there are technically no laws that cover the use of L and P-plates while on your full licence.

While not illegal in those states, you could still be stung for speeding over what is marked on the L and P-plates themselves (90km/h for L and red P-plates, 100km/h for green P-plates).