Florida police have previously come under scrutiny for alleged racial profiling on roadways. A 2016 report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found that black motorists were stopped and ticketed for seatbelt violations nearly twice as often as white drivers.

In a statement, Ayala acknowledged that “the traffic stop appears to be consistent with Florida law”.

“To be clear, I violated no laws,” she said. “The license plate, while confidential, was and remains properly registered.

“The tint was in no way a violation of Florida law.”

Ayala added that she hoped the incident would facilitate “an open dialogue with the Chief of Orlando Police Department” about how to achieve “a constructive and mutually respectful relationship between law enforcement and the community”.

Images: youtube.com, Rex Features

Policeman pulls over a black woman, discovers she’s the state attorney