Driver, 21, avoids ticket by having her three friends do Drake’s viral In My Feelings challenge

A woman was able to avoid getting a ticket in Florida after three of her loyal and talented friends danced their way out of their sticky situation.

In a Facebook video posted on Thursday, 21-year-old Sa’Vanna Smith shared that she had been pulled over by officers from the Tallahassee Police Department for not having her headlights on. 

‘I was shocked to see the lights flashing behind me because I knew I wasn’t speeding but my front seat passenger (Damion) told me that my lights were off,’ Smith explained to DailyMail.com. 

In a Facebook video posted on Thursday, 21-year-old Sa’Vanna Smith shared that she had been pulled over by officers from the Tallahassee Police Deparment for not having her headlights on

Expecting to get a ticket, Smith and her four passengers were shocked when the officers asked if they wanted to dance to avoid the citation

Expecting to get a ticket, Smith and her four passengers were shocked when the officers asked if they wanted to dance to avoid the citation

Expecting to get a ticket, Smith and her four passengers were shocked when the officers asked if they wanted to dance to avoid the citation

Expecting to get a ticket, Smith shared that she was surprised when the officers offered her an ultimatum that if her friends danced then she wouldn’t get a ticket.

‘The officer was really nice from the start of the interaction,’ she explained. 

‘I thought I was going to get a ticket so when he suggested that we had another way out of it I jumped at the chance. I’m glad the situation was handled with laughs instead of my friends being in fear.’ 

According Officer Damon Miller, a spokesperson with the Tallahassee Police Department, it is up to the officer’s discretion on whether they will give drivers a warning or a ticket.  

The clip opens with her friends – Za’Vante Fizer, Tywon Jones and Damion Franklin – dancing in perfect unison to Drake’s ‘In Me Feelings’ at approximately 12.30am.

‘It was a wrap from there,’ Fizer asserted.

Video shows her friends - Za'Vante Fizer, Tywon Jones and Damion Franklin - dancing in perfect unison to Drake's 'In Me Feelings' at approximately 12.30am

Video shows her friends – Za’Vante Fizer, Tywon Jones and Damion Franklin – dancing in perfect unison to Drake’s ‘In Me Feelings’ at approximately 12.30am

Smith films the trio put on the show, flashing just briefly to the area where the police officers are watching. 

Franklin and Fizer both do their thing while Jones acts as a maestro of the routine. 

As the clip ends, the three bust out into their own solos and Smith is heard screaming in the background, with help from another friend. 

‘They all smiled/laughed and shook our hands and told us to be safe throughout the night,’ Fizer, 22, said of the officers, two of which were white while the other was black. 

In the video that has been viewed more than 58k times, Franklin and Fizer both do their thing while Jones acts as a maestro of the routine

In the video that has been viewed more than 58k times, Franklin and Fizer both do their thing while Jones acts as a maestro of the routine

In the video that has been viewed more than 58k times, Franklin (left) and Fizer (right) both do their thing while Jones acts as a maestro of the routine

Tywon Jones (pictured) said: 'Honestly it was fun. Anytime I can help out a friend of mine while doing something I love to do is a plus for me.'

Tywon Jones (pictured) said: ‘Honestly it was fun. Anytime I can help out a friend of mine while doing something I love to do is a plus for me.’

‘They were pretty cool the whole time. No one gave anyone a hard time, from either side.’ 

For Smith, the experience proved to be one that brought her and her friends closer together.

‘Having friends who genuinely love and care for your well being are important to keep around,’ she said. ‘The police aren’t always bad.’

For her friends, they relished in the opportunity to showcase their dancing passion while helping a friend.

'They all smiled/laughed and shook our hands and told us to be safe throughout the night,' Fizer shared of the officers - two of which were white

‘They all smiled/laughed and shook our hands and told us to be safe throughout the night,’ Fizer shared of the officers – two of which were white

‘I didn’t expect Sa’Vanna to be put in a predicament as such, but we knew if we could get her out of it, then why not be those friends?,’ Fizer said. 

The sentiment was shared by 20-year-old Tywon Jones who added: ‘Honestly it was fun. Anytime I can help out a friend of mine while doing something I love to do is a plus for me.’

‘Dancing is something I love to do,’ said 20-year-old Damion Franklin. ‘So when they gave her that option, it was a no brainier.’

He added: Dancing in front of police officers was a little different. It isn’t the ideal crowd, but it was for our friend.’

'Having friends who genuinely love and care for your well being are important to keep around,' Smith, 21, said

‘Having friends who genuinely love and care for your well being are important to keep around,’ Smith, 21, said

And while the video has quickly gone viral, garnering more than 58k views, Smith has had to speak out on criticism that she exploited her friends. 

‘I felt bad because it can be seen as blacks dancing to entertain whites (as people in my comments have described it as),’ Smith said.

‘But as a college student I was not trying to have to pay the fine, get the points on my license, and most importantly call my parents in the middle of the night and tell them I got a ticket for something as simple as my lights not being on.’ 

She added that it was important to ‘take into consideration of your friends dignity even if it helps to benefit yourself.’  

All four students seen and heard in the video attend Florida A&M University, a historically black university. 

The three dancers are part of a group called the Strikers Dance Troupe and they had been leaving practice when they were pulled over.  

 



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