A uniquely painted truck cruising the streets of Florida has ignited both curiosity and concern amongst residents and law enforcement. Despite its uncanny resemblance to a Border Patrol vehicle, it is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office made a public announcement about the eye-catching white Chevrolet Silverado truck, complete with green decals that bear a striking resemblance to a Border Patrol truck. Deputies warned the public about the truck, which allegedly had red and blue lights and had been impersonating law enforcement, urging them not to pull over for it.
Nevertheless, the truck’s owner, Gabriel Luviano, who frequently shares updates about the vehicle online, insists that he has done nothing wrong. Via text messages to McClatchy News, Luviano clarified, “I only use my lights for shows and on private property, and I have never pulled anyone over.”
Several individuals came to Luviano’s defense, affirming that they have seen his truck around and recognized it as a show truck. One Facebook user wrote a comment in response to the warning, stating, “Anyone looking at this truck would laugh and know it is NOT law enforcement.”
Deputies later provided an update, revealing that they had conducted a traffic stop on the truck’s driver on October 29 and issued a citation regarding “certain lights prohibited,” according to their release.
Luviano disclosed to McClatchy News that he received a $113 fine for the lights, emphasizing that his intention was never to impersonate law enforcement but rather to bring some humor and enjoyment. He commented, “I just wanted to have some fun, never impersonate anyone. Let’s just have a good laugh about it.”
Meanwhile, many have questioned the wisdom of dedicating time and resources to track down this vehicle. On Facebook, one person expressed disappointment, writing, “It’s a little sad to see this happening to the car community. This is just a show truck, nothing more. I’ve never seen him using his blue lights and I’ve seen him all over DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.”
Luviano has proudly showcased his truck through photos and videos on social media. While some videos display red and blue lights on the inside and underside of the truck, it is worth noting that the vehicle appears to be stationary in these recordings.
