Posted: Mon 1:12 PM, Nov 19, 2012

17-Year-Old Driver Clocked at 114mph on the Beltline

Posted Monday, November 9, 2012 --- 1:09 p.m.

Incident Report from the Madison Police Department:

Incident Type: Traffic Arrest

Incident Date: 11/15/2012 - 10:06 PM

Address: West Beltline Highway near S. Whitney Way

Details: When the officer asked the 17-year old driver how fast he thought he had been traveling, the young man said he could not even provide a ball park figure. The officer then inquired about what speed the teen saw the last he looked at his speedometer, and the courteous driver said it was about 85 mph. The officer told him he had gotten up a bit higher than that last Thursday night, when he passed the officer’s position, traveling east on the West Beltline Highway, near S. Whitney Way.

For the record, that is a 55 mph zone. The officer clocked the teen at 59 mph above the speed limit. Doing the math, that's 114 mph. The 17-year old was very apologetic and said he needed to get home, and that was why he was heavy-footed. The officer pointed out that had he been driving the speed limit, and not gotten pulled over, he would have been home already. Now, not only was he late, but he had a $429 ticket in hand.

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  • by Captain Obvious Location: Madison on Dec 17, 2012 at 11:58 AM
    Seeing teeners in tricked out compact cars traveling in excessive of 90 mph, weaving through traffic like it is a video game, is a "very common" ocurrance on the West Beltline, most commonly headed in the Easterly direction. Glad to see it draw some attention via a headline caption. The video survelience system strung along this major traffic artery has to confirm what thousands of commuters witness no less than weekly.
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  • by Josh Location: DeForest on Nov 20, 2012 at 11:21 AM
    Hank, the problem with equating this offense to a DUI is that we live in Wisconsin. All you get for a DUI is a slap on the wrist, maybe an overnight stay in the slammer, an insignificant fine, and then you're back behind the wheel in no time.
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  • by RDog1 Location: Sun Prairie on Nov 20, 2012 at 11:06 AM
    This reminded me of when they called me at UW-Milwaukee back in 1974 to tell me that my dad had a heart attack. Of course I rushed home to Beloit. I drove from Milwaukee to just west of Delevan, where the freeway ended (Now I43), in my '67 Camaro, at 125 MPH, TRYING to flag a cop so I could get an escort to the hospital. (I miss that car!!! - Power!) Ya' think I could get stopped??? NO! Not one cop in the entire 60 miles or so!! And, this kid gets nailed on the beltline! :) rdog1
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  • by Hank Holte Location: Cottage Grove on Nov 20, 2012 at 07:28 AM
    Should equal to a DUI,Guess reckless driving no longer a violation
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  • by Name Location: Location on Nov 20, 2012 at 05:55 AM
    Take his license away until he he is 25. Increase the fine. Nice lie by the way that you had to get home. Sure your parents would prefer you get there alive vs in a body bag since you drive like an idiot. Some kids do not deserve the privlage of a drivers license.
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  • by Anonymous on Nov 20, 2012 at 01:08 AM
    Common sense would tell me that this should have been a felony stop! He was going more than twice the legal speed on a stretch of road that is already dangerous enough at the legal speed!
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  • by Rachel Location: Monroe on Nov 19, 2012 at 05:13 PM
    He is very lucky that he didn't cause an accident!
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  • by Name Location: Location on Nov 19, 2012 at 02:54 PM
    DUMB IDIOT, even 85mpr is TOO FAST!!!
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  • by Name Location: Location on Nov 19, 2012 at 02:31 PM
    I thought anything over 20MPH over the speed limit was cause for immediate loss of license, especially since this driver has a probationary license.
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  • by Randall Location: Marshall on Nov 19, 2012 at 02:26 PM
    $429 is not a proper punishment for going speeds that would likely be instantly fatal to any vehicle he struck. Immediate revocation of his license for going double the speed and far steeper fine would be far more appropriate.
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