Texas police issue traffic ticket on private road
Picture this: You’re ripping down your private driveway, fine-tuning your track car’s engine. No traffic, no pedestrians—just a locked gate at the end of your private four-mile road. It’s the ultimate safe spot for car testing, right? Not for one Texas car enthusiast, who found himself face-to-face with a flashing red and blue light show at his gate. The police officer on the other side wasn’t there to admire his speed—he was there to write a reckless driving ticket.
What happened on the private driveway
The driver wasn’t out street racing or putting anyone in danger. According to his Reddit post, he was simply testing his car on a private road on his own gated property. The driveway? Completely private, fenced off, and marked with “No Trespassing” signs. Despite this, the officer claimed to have clocked him at 162 mph and issued a reckless driving ticket.
Attorney Andrew Flusche, an expert in traffic law, didn’t mince words. “The officer is there asking you for information, and you’re going to turn around and ask him, ‘Why are you even stopping me? This isn’t a road.’ He’s not stopping you. You’re on your private property. He can’t come on your private property without a search warrant or an arrest warrant or some exigent circumstance,” Flusche said.
Know your rights on private property
So, can police enforce traffic laws on roads on private property? Not typically—especially if the property is gated and not open to public access. However, Flusche warned that things aren’t always cut-and-dried: “You need a good lawyer because… the prosecutor could make a quick little motion to amend the statute to a different code section. And now the poster is out of luck.”
What’s the best move in a situation like this? Keep calm. Don’t argue. And definitely don’t volunteer information. As Flusche advised, “You shouldn’t have even talked to the police officer in the first place.”
Dealing with police on your private property can be tricky, but knowing your rights is half the battle. Remember if an officer shows up at your gate, you don’t have to talk, and they need a warrant to step foot past your fence.
See Andrew Flusche’s advice for yourself in the video below:
