‘A little speeding ticket’
The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson was surprised Saturday when he was pulled over for speeding on a suburban Minneapolis highway.
According to police video, Minnestoa’s speedy star running back told the officer he was going “probably about 85” while driving his BMW on state Highway 62.
Not even close. Try 109 mph. Nearly twice the posted 55 mph speed limit on a usually busy stretch of road.
“Seriously? … I didn’t think I was going that fast.” Peterson told the offer who stopped him.
Hmmm? Ever bother checking the speedometer while you drive?
When asked about the incident on Thursday by The Associated Press, Peterson said he “got a little speeding ticket. I need to be more aware of the speed I was going and not let it happen again.”
Peterson could lose his driver’s license over the ticket. In 2005, Minnesota lawmakers approved tougher sanctions for drivers caught at excessive speeds, and one provision requires revocation for at least six months for driving faster than 100 mph.
“Mr. Peterson is going to be walking for a little while. That’s an automatic suspension for anything over 100 mph,” state Sen. Steve Murphy said. “Just because he can go 100 mph on the football field doesn’t mean he needs to go 100 mph on our roads.”
Peterson has become one of the sport’s most popular players, with a high national profile that includes an endorsement with Nike. He has no known prior off-the-field troubles, and he’s active in the community with charity work. Peterson annually hosts a Special Olympics event at the team’s practice facility, one of his favorite causes.
Minnesota (10-1) plays at Arizona (7-4) this Sunday night in a matchup of division leaders.
PARTING SHOT
“The Tiger image, long carefully cultivated and fiercely protected, is being torn to pieces and scattered across the sidewalk. Everybody’s staring at Tiger as if he were a naked drunk staggering under a noonday sun.”
— Monte Poole
The Oakland Tribune columnist on Tiger Woods and the ongoing revelations about the pro golfer’s personal life. See C9 for the latest in the growing Woods story.
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