Mary O’Connor, head of the police force in Tampa, Florida’s third-largest city, was the passenger in a golf cart that was pulled over last month for driving on a road without a license plate.

Body camera footage of the traffic stop revealed that she showed her badge to an officer and said she was “hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight”, CNN reports.

Ms O’Connor and the driver of the cart were allowed to leave, but the incident was later investigated by the police force.

Tampa mayor Jane Castor said she had requested and received the police chief’s resignation.

“The Tampa Police Department has a code of conduct that includes high standards for ethical and professional behaviour that apply to every member of our police force,” she said.

“As the chief of police, you are not only to abide by and enforce those standards but to also lead by example. That clearly did not happen in this case.”