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Being a celebrity does not put you above the law. For the most part, Hollywood superstars are more than aware of that fact. They are, after all, just regular people when you boil it down. So, just like ordinary people, some of them tend to get a little reckless behind the wheel. Of course, countless celebrities lost their lives in car accidents. Let’s keep it on the lighter side, though. Here are five excellent stories of celebrities that got busted for speeding.

Elon Musk’s Tesla Takedown

Tesla CEO Elon Musk leaving court after attending a hearing for a tweet on social media
Tesla CEO Elon Musk leaving court | Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The story of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s speeding ticket is almost too good to be true. It is, in fact, true!

According to The Cars Hub, Musk was behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S. If that were the end of the story, it wouldn’t be all that exciting. However, Hollywood superstar duo Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany were shooting the movie Transcendence when Musk offered to give them a ride. When the police pulled Musk over for speeding, Bettany was sitting on Depp’s lap.

One can only imagine how that conversation with the police went!

Justin Bieber’s time behind the wheel has some rough history

Justin Bieber is no stranger to run-ins with the law. It wasn’t all that long ago that he hit a paparazzi photographer with his lifted pickup truck. To be fair, though, the photographer was in a spot where Bieber couldn’t see him as he was trying to back out of his house.

Incidentally, Bieber’s most severe speeding charge was once again during an effort to escape the paparazzi. In 2012, Bieber was just 18 when he was pulled over for going over 100 miles per hour through LA.

Additionally, police busted Bieber for speeding again in 2015. Additionally, he got a DUI in 2014. Needless to say, his time behind the wheel is a bit rocky.

Louis Tomlinson went one direction a little too quickly

Musician Louis Tomlinson, former member of One Direction, performs onstage in support of his debut solo album "WALLS" at YouTube Theater
Louis Tomlinson on stage | Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

This one is just a bit annoying. Louis Tomlinson is a former member of the superstar studded group One Direction. He continues to produce music and has a collection of pretty cool cars. He hasn’t had many run-ins with the law, but the one police cited him for is annoying.

Police ticketed Tomlinson in 2012 for going 48 miles per hour in a 40 zone. Come on, right? Sure, he was speeding, but eight miles per hour was enough to get the ticket?

The ferocious speeding got Tomlinson three points on his license and a $100 fine.

Ben Affleck hit triple digits

Ben Affleck spotted filling his Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport in LA
Ben Affleck with his Chevelle SS | Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

On the opposite end of the spectrum comes Hollywood superstar and icon Ben Affleck. This one was undoubtedly a well-deserved citation.

Affleck was driving through Georgia in 2001 with his foot on the floor. Police clocked him at 114 miles per hour and immediately hit the lights and sirens.

Affleck spent a few hours in the county jail before posting a $1,114 bond, presumably based on the speed, then released.

Evidently, Affleck didn’t learn his lesson. In 2010, police stopped him once again for speeding through Santa Monica with then-wife Jennifer Garner in the passenger seat of his Lexus.

Gordon Ramsay has a bit of a lead foot

TV Chef Gordon Ramsay at the Hyundai stand at the Sunday Times Motor Show
Gordon Ramsay | Graeme Robertson/Getty Images

Gordon Ramsay, the hot-headed celebrity chef, is more than happy to tell you he regularly speeds in his Ferraris throughout the U.S. With his collection of multiple Ferraris, a Bentley, a Porsche 911 Turbo and an Aston Martin DB7, you’d think he’s pretty regularly in trouble for traffic violations. Not so! However, his speeding story is a bit surprising. He wasn’t behind the wheel of any of these supercars!

Instead, Ramsay was behind the wheel of his Land Rover. He was, however, pulled over for going over 80 miles per hour in a 40 mph construction zone. Ouch. We can’t imagine, though, that he was too worried about paying the fine.

Enjoy yourself, but drive safe!

Though these stories are fun to reflect on, there’s certainly no reason to endanger the public. Of course, we don’t endorse speeding anywhere. However, if you are going to do it, at least have the decency to do it where there’s no traffic!

Just remember, if even celebrities are subject to being thrown in jail for speeding, you certainly can be too! Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time!

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