BATON ROUGE, LA – A motorist was detained Tuesday after witnesses reported seeing him activate his turn signal before changing lanes on College Drive.
Police say the driver, identified as “someone from out of town,” gave motorists four seconds of advance notice before merging right.
“That level of communication is highly unusual,” said a BRPD spokesperson. “Most drivers here merge by closing their eyes, turning the wheel, and hoping for the best.”
The suspicious maneuver caused confusion. One driver slammed on his brakes, another missed his turn, and a third called 9-1-1 to report the erratic behavior.
During questioning, the suspect claimed he was letting others know where he intended to go. Authorities said that explanation deepened their concerns.
A search of the vehicle uncovered evidence, including current registration and proof of insurance stored in an accessible location.
The driver was released with a warning and instructed to blend in by cutting across traffic from the left lane without looking when he left the scene of the stop.
