For those who haven't seen it, a viral video was released by a college student who was pulled over and assaulted by police in Jacksonville, Florida. Back in February of 2025, William McNeil, Jr. was stopped by police for failure to have his headlights on. Florida statute 316.217 says... 

(1) Every vehicle operated upon a highway within this state shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as herein respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, under the following conditions;

(a) At any time from sunset to sunrise including the twilight hours. Twilight hours shall mean the time between sunset and full night or between full night and sunrise.

(b) During any rain, smoke, or fog.

Whenever visibility is less than 1,000 feet, like in heavy storms or any situation where you can’t see clearly ahead, it is also recommended to use headlights.

From the vantage point of the arresting officer's body camera, there didn't appear to be any inclement weather. Also, the stop took place a little after 4:00 P.M. so it wasn't yet dusk. McNeil refused to provide his license to the police and requested a supervisor because he questioned the validity of the stop. In fact, other motorists on the road can be seen driving by without their headlights on. Subsequently, McNeil's car window was broken, he was punched in the face, forcibly removed from his vehicle, punched again while restrained, and thrown to the ground where he claims the assault continued. The officer's video does show McNeil being struck twice in the back by a fist as his face is being pushed into the asphalt. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office launched an investigation once McNeil's video made headlines. McNeil claims to have suffered a concussion, a chipped tooth, and says he needed at least nine stitches in his lip. The officer's body cam was obstructed during the attack. We can't speculate as to whether or not this was intentional, but only the arrest is visible. The police recovered marijuana from McNeil and discovered he also had a suspended license and a warrant for his arrest. McNeil spent two days in jail. McNeil's video shows what took place from his perspective.  

Failure to use headlights when required is a noncriminal traffic infraction in Florida (typically a moving violation with a fine and possible points on your license). Based on what the law states, there didn't appear to be a viable reason to stop McNeil if it were solely for failure to use his headlights. If the law is so important, it's crucial that everyone follow it. Some police officers have at times omitted information in their reports or told falsehoods, which made their account of events questionable. As a result, body cams were eventually mandated in most departments. Body cameras became necessary to increase transparency, deter misconduct, and enhance public trust in law enforcement. Now, body cameras are showing us what has been occurring - police shootings and police beatings, but the results are still the same. Tyre Nichols was basically beaten to death on camera and all of the officers were acquitted of state charges. Ryan Hinton was shot in the back by police on camera, his death ruled a homicide, and no charges filed. Officer Bowser's report supposedly says that McNeil became combative and reached for a knife but mentioned no injuries. The State Attorney's Office concluded that none of the officers involved violated state law.