A routine New Mexico Rio Rancho traffic stop turned into an arrest for a 45-year-old mom. The police officer stopped her because he could not read the license plate of the vehicle. He told her the license plate was too high up for him to read.

At the beginning of the police bodycam video, the officer explained to her, “It’s too high up. So, that’s the reason I pulled you over. I can’t see it.” Then he asked her if she was sober, “Anything to drink tonight?” She confidently replied,” No.” The officer asked her again, “If we gave you a breath test. You’d pass?”

The woman revealed her name was Esmaralda. The New Mexico mom was not endangering anyone with her driving; however, her license plate wasn’t visible. That was a red flag for the police officer to stop her vehicle and investigate further.

The officer asked for her driver’s license, and she admitted she did not have one. She did not know if it was revoked or suspended, but she knew she should not have been driving. That’s when she knew she was in trouble and got emotional. She asked the officer, “Can I smoke a cigarette and turn off the car?”

He assured her, “If it’s invalid, revoked, I have to, you know. So, let me check it out first.” Moreover, he told her that if the license was suspended, it’s illegal to drive and comes with hefty fines. Although he claimed he would give her a warning and not cite her in court.

She told him that she was working on getting her license back, but the system is slow. The MVD told her to take classes, while the place where she was supposed to take classes told her she didn’t need them.

The officer informed her that she’s getting arrested over her revoked license. He wanted to make sure the kids would be taken care of, so she called a friend to pick them up. She requested to talk to her daughter and told her, “Babe, open the door. I love you. Okay. I’m getting arrested.”

The New Mexico police officer checked her belongings for dr– and weapons but could not find any. He found a dollar coin that she seemed attached to and requested to keep it. The officer gave her stuff to her daughter and told her, “Do not spend her dollar coin. I guess she loves that dollar coin.”

The mother was oddly calm in the situation as the police officer drove her to the station. He also advised her to get her license from an express MVD service. She may have to pay more, but it would be better service.