A speeding ticket for going 205 mph.

Don't worry, it was only 140 mph over the speed limit.

Published on September 22, 2004 By Janders In Current Events

On Saturday a new record was set in Minnesota, and it is not one to be proud of. It was for the fastest speeding ticket in MN history.

Samuel Tilley (age 20) was clocked by MN state partol aircraft going 205 miles per hour on a motorcycle that he did not have a licence to drive.

The posted speed limit was 65, which means he was going 140 miles per hour OVER the limit.

He was racing with another rider who was ticketed for going 111 mph.

I am just in disbelief that someone could be that reckless and stupid! He could of killed innocent people. If you want to risk your own life that is one thing, but to endanger the life of others, is beyond words.

What irks me is that he will probably just have to pay a fine. At that speed that motorcycle is like a weapon, a lethal one. He should be charged with more than reckless driving, he should be charged with attempted manslaughter. He should also have his license taken away, because he is obviously not responsible enough to have one, and is a danger to other drivers.

Speed Kills, I hope our justice system does not fail us and makes an example of this guy.

Comments

Texas Wahine

on Sep 22, 2004

Holy crap! Idiot. We have had a problem with racing here, and even though it has cost the lives of several soldiers from our base, they continue to do it. Not only is it stupidity of mind-bending proportions, but it is just as negligent and dangerous as drunk driving. Has this instance with the guy from your state been highly publicized?

Janders

on Sep 22, 2004

It has been moderatly publicized, (Front page of the metro section, a few mentions in morning news). I am so appaled, it just floors me. How can anyone be that stupid.....

Angloesque

on Sep 22, 2004

How is it racing if you're going 95 mph faster than the other guy? It's not even a contest.

Sheesh.

I wouldn't go so far as to say attempted manslaughter (don't you have to have a motive for that?) but definitely reckless and stupid driving, and perhaps a long suspension of a license and a good smack upside the head (and perhaps elsewhere).

Sheesh again.

Janders

on Sep 22, 2004

Murder you have to have a motive, manslaughter can even be accidental......

Drunk drivers that kill someone get vehicular manslaughter, not murder, because murder implies motive and intent.

bakerstreet

on Sep 23, 2004

Anything over a couple dozen MPH over the speed limit is reckless driving and atrip to the county jail. You can bet he got more than a ticket.

KarmaGirl

on Sep 23, 2004

Anything over a couple dozen MPH over the speed limit is reckless driving and atrip to the county jail. You can bet he got more than a ticket.

Very true. Drag racing on the streets is also illegal. He probably didn't have a license to drive that motorcycle because it's doubtful that it's actually a street bike. I can almost bet that it's one built for the drag strip (205mph is *really* fast). Most stock bikes top out at about 170mph. There are many many things that he can get busted for.

People are stupid- that you can count on.

Erk.

on Sep 23, 2004

Au contraire KG.....

The Hayabusa (sp) is capable of speeds well above 200mph (with legal add-ons) They'll do 200mph stock. As a bike rider who rides on a daily basis (carefully mind you, ...getting old now) I just dont see the point of building a bike that goes that fast, if you're riding it on roads that have speed limits.

see this for spec's Link

That fool was riding his own rocket to hell!

jillie bean

on Sep 23, 2004

This guy did not go to jail!!! They let him go and a judge will decide on his fines. He should have not been let go that night and his bike should have been taken. They are treating him some what like a hero in both the press and by the cops.

I just don't get it.

KarmaGirl

on Sep 23, 2004

Au contraire KG.....

The Hayabusa (sp) is capable of speeds well above 200mph (with legal add-ons) They'll do 200mph stock.

Obviously you missed the "probably" and "most" in what I said
I know that there are bikes that can "stock" go close to that. But, if he was going 205, even if he had a Suzuki Hayabusa, he would have had to have modified it. (Plus, the top speed of a Hayabusa in real world tests is 305 kph, which is about 190mph)- your link gave a 404 error, so I have no idea what was said on there. There is also a MotorBike review at: http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/reviews/review40.htm that explains that they have been built to be "only" 189mph. (Like anyone needs to go even that fast on the street- especially since the speed limit is about 1/3 of that even on expressways)

The guy didn't just do this on a whim.

He should have been put in jail. There is no way that this guy should just be walking around. I guess since he didn't actually kill somebody it must be "not as bad".

Janders

on Sep 23, 2004

According to the news media, the bike was street legal, but he did not have a motorcycle licence.

He most likely will not face any jail time and will just have to pay a fine.

Do you think the fact that he was not put in jail has anything to do with the fact his father is a County Sheriff deputy?

shadesofgrey

on Sep 23, 2004

Drunk drivers that kill someone get vehicular manslaughter, not murder, because murder implies motive and intent.

Interestingly, Janders, not in all states. NC tried a guy who killed two students in 1996 with two accounts of first degree murder. They were sucessful in arguing that drinking and driving was a premeditated act and therefore fit the motive and intent definition in murder.

Shocking that this "drag racer" got off with what appears to be little more than a slap on the wrist.

SSG Geezer

on Sep 26, 2004

I agree with your comment about this guy being a moron Janders, but I believe that it is stupidity that kills, not speed.

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