I guy just claimed to set a new record for the fastest time driving (illegally) around Manhattan.
I’m torn because on one hand I love to drive fast and I know my limits and my car’s limits… on the other hand I know this will inspire others to do whatever it takes to break the record. Hell, I’d have a blast giving it a try, but I wouldn’t look at a watch and just do it at the top speed I felt comfortable with. Of course with my luck I’d get a ticket in the first couple of blocks.
Allowing for the fact that the video was sped up, it didn’t seem like he was passing cars with a humungous speed differential. I didn’t watch the whole thing; I’m guessing he must have been hustling on the vehicle-free portions of his route. If that’s the case, it at least shows some sense of judgment, even if he’s pushing the risk a bit.
Contrast that with the 911 Stockholm “getaway” (fast-forward 1 minute to get past the bullshit setup); he’s hitting speeds way in excess of 100 MPH, probably over 150 at some points, a public menace.
Yeah, going 26.5 miles in 24 minutes is only an average of 66 mph. But in reality it takes a lot of speed to bring that average up from the time stopped at the red lights. There were some very empty stretches where I’m sure he was well into the three digit range, but most of the time in traffic I don’t think he was that crazy fast.
"Police Commissioner Ray Kelly promised to hunt down (AfroDuck) the driver, saying, “We now have license-plate readers in the city that will assist in this type of investigation.”
Please report back if they find him. I’m thinking the fines and sentencing will be impressive, in a staggering sort of way.
I know nothing at all about NY traffic law, but without a clear face picture, could they even charge the “driver” with an offense? It seems like it would be like a parking ticket since you can’t prove who was driving… I lent it to my brother’s sister in law’s friend’s cousin’s step brother.
If red light camera violations are enforceable in NY I don’t see how this would be interpreted any differently. Plus, once identified they have his own camera, voice recognition capability, etc.
Again, I’m not up on NY law, but I thought that was a thing with red light cameras most places that they were citations similar to parking tickets due to the issue of proving who was driving. Also, there is no audio on the video. He did his best to cover his bases and said he will reveal his identity one year later after any statutes of limitation run out.
The Police Commissioner seems to think they can find him and, I assume, make a punitive case against him. If top cop is aware and miffed and says so publicly then the means are likely there to make prosecution stick AND be a thoughtful provoking deterrent. Again, if there’s a conclusion to the story post it. It’ll be pretty interesting.
I think the Commissioner thinks he can find the car… the question is can he pin anything on the driver. Can he prove if it is Racer X or someone else. They may be able to prove that it was the Mach 5, but was Speed Racer driving? Seems like a bunch of tickets that could maybe impound the car would be the worst that could come of it.
