NYC’s richest ‘super speeders’ rack up $10M in speed camera fines over 12 months: report
The streets are burning rubber, along with the bank accounts of some wealthy individuals. A recent analysis conducted by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets revealed that “super speeders” in luxury cars accumulated over $10 million in speed-camera tickets last year. These individuals, who are classified as super speeders for receiving at least 16 camera tickets in a single year, are often found driving expensive, late-model vehicles.
According to the report, these super speeders are spending millions to speed through neighborhoods in their brand new luxury cars. One particular driver stands out for having paid a whopping $70,536 in speeding penalties while driving a 2022 BMW X5. Another driver, behind the wheel of a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, owes an astonishing $93,714 in fines but continues to roam the streets.
Despite luxury vehicles accounting for only about 25% of vehicles on city streets, a striking 40% of super speeders are driving luxury cars. Among the 1,000 worst offenders, 52% are found in luxury vehicles, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi being the most common brands.
On average, super speeders have paid off more than $4,890 in fines, fees, and penalties, but they still owe an average of $1,266. Surprisingly, nearly 950 super speeders have already paid off $10,000 or more in fines.
Ben Furnas, the executive director of the group, emphasized the importance of proposed legislation in Albany known as “Stop Super Speeders.” Furnas believes that this legislation will not only save lives but also save money for super speeders themselves, as many of them are spending thousands more on speeding tickets than they would on a speed limiter.
The analysis serves as a stark reminder of the reckless behavior of some wealthy drivers and the need for stricter enforcement measures to ensure the safety of all road users.
