By Shawn Henry 
When people get pulled over, they sometimes panic and come up with the most bizarre excuses to avoid a ticket. Here are ten of the dumbest excuses drivers have given.
1. “I Was Speeding to Dry My Car After a Car Wash”
Jake had just finished washing his bright red Ford Mustang at a self-serve car wash in Phoenix, Arizona. As he pulled onto the highway, he floored it, thinking the wind would dry his car faster than a towel. When Officer Ramirez pulled him over for doing 95 mph in a 65 mph zone, Jake proudly explained his method. The officer just shook his head. “That’s what towels are for, buddy,” he said while handing over the ticket.
2. “My Gas Pedal Got Stuck”
Emily, driving her Honda Accord, was flying down a quiet road in Des Moines, Iowa at 80 mph when she saw flashing lights behind her. She pulled over and told Officer Thompson that her gas pedal was stuck, so she had no choice but to keep going fast. When the officer asked why she didn’t use the brakes or shift into neutral, Emily just shrugged. The ticket was issued.
3. “I Was Trying to Get Away from a Bee”
Tom, a nervous driver in his Toyota Corolla, was weaving all over the road in Charleston, South Carolina when Officer Bryant pulled him over. “Are you okay?” the officer asked. Tom, sweating, explained that a bee had flown into his car and he was trying not to get stung. The officer looked inside—no bee in sight. Tom still got a reckless driving ticket.
4. “I Just Got New Brakes and Was Testing Them”
Marcus had just gotten brand-new brakes on his Dodge Charger in Detroit, Michigan. Eager to test them out, he started slamming the brakes repeatedly on a busy street, causing chaos. Officer Daniels pulled him over and asked what he was doing. Marcus proudly said he was “just making sure they worked.” The officer sighed, wrote him a citation, and told him to test his brakes in an empty parking lot next time.
5. “I Thought the Speed Limit Was in Kilometers, Not Miles”
Sophie, a Canadian tourist in a Tesla Model 3, was visiting Austin, Texas, when she was caught doing 120 mph in a 75 mph zone. She explained to Officer McAllister that she thought the speed limit sign was in kilometers per hour, not miles per hour. The officer, unimpressed, asked if she had checked her own speedometer—which clearly showed both units. Ticket issued.
6. “I Swerved Because I Saw a Ghost”
Derek was driving his Chevrolet Impala through a dark, wooded road in Salem, Massachusetts, when he suddenly swerved into the other lane, nearly causing a collision. Officer Brooks pulled him over and asked what happened. Derek, eyes wide, whispered, “I saw a ghost standing in the road.” The officer smirked. “That ghost just cost you a reckless driving ticket.”
7. “I Was Late for My Court Date… for a Speeding Ticket”
David was tearing down the interstate in his Subaru WRX near Denver, Colorado, when Officer Carter clocked him going 95 mph. When pulled over, David frantically explained he was late for court—where he was fighting a previous speeding ticket. The irony was too much for the officer, who handed him yet another ticket.
8. “I Have a Medical Condition That Makes Me Drive Fast”
Lisa, driving her BMW M3, was caught doing 100 mph in Miami, Florida. When Officer Hernandez pulled her over, she confidently claimed she had a rare condition that made her physically incapable of driving slowly. The officer raised an eyebrow. “I think your real condition is ‘lead foot syndrome.’” Ticket issued.
9. “I Just Got My Car Back from the Mechanic, and I Wanted to Make Sure It Worked”
Mark had just picked up his Pontiac Firebird from the repair shop in Seattle, Washington. Excited to test it out, he sped down the highway at 90 mph before being pulled over. He told Officer Reed he was just making sure everything was working properly. The officer asked, “Do you need to check if the brakes work too?” before handing over the ticket.
10. “I Wasn’t Speeding, I Was Time Traveling”
Brandon, behind the wheel of his DeLorean DMC-12, was clocked at 88 mph in Los Angeles, California. When Officer Williams asked why he was speeding, Brandon smiled and said, “I wasn’t speeding. I was just trying to hit 88 mph to time travel.” The officer chuckled, handed him the ticket, and said, “Next time, keep it under 88 or you’ll time travel straight to traffic court.”
Steven Symes