A lawyer has responded on YouTube to Marques Brownlee's speeding controversy.
There are plenty of people who like to live dangerously and flout the law, but doing a crime and then posting it for millions of people to see must win some sort of award for stupidity. If you thought Jack Doherty filming himself crashing his McLaren while on the phone was a questionable move, Marques "MKBHD" Brownlee is giving him a run for his money by posting a video where he's seemingly going 60 mph over the speed limit.
Brownlee is facing backlash for his video, titled "How My Video Gear is Changing!" As well as being a fully sponsored video for DJI instead of an independent review, MKBHD looks like he recorded himself blatantly breaking the speed limit on a suburban road.
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The comments quickly turned on MKBHD, with one critic writing: "96 mph in a school zone? Dude…what the hell?"
An edited version has replaced the original, but the internet never forgets. Someone else added: "Just so everyone coming in late knows what happens, Marques went in and removed a 5 second section of this video where he recklessly goes 96 mph in a 35 mph zone. He's attempting to sweep it under the rug, it would seem."
While the evidence is gone, YouTube channel LegalEagle warns that the law could soon catch up for MKBHD.
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If going at 96 mph in a 35 mph zone wasn't enough, MKBHD even has footage of him zipping past a road sign warning that tells drivers to slow down for children.
MKBHD originally dodged the accusations, pinning a comment to the video saying he cut the 'unnecessary' driving bit. He later posted an apology on X, saying: "Last video I did something pretty stupid. You might've already seen it, but maybe not so I'll address it here.
"There was a clip with the action cam of me test driving a car and going way too fast. Absolutely inexcusable and dangerous."
As for the ramifications, Devin James Stone, aka LegalEagle, says that Brownlee films most of his videos in New Jersey, so let's assume it's New Jersey traffic laws that apply. New Jersey drivers are told NOT to exceed 'thirty-five miles per hour in any suburban business or residential district.' If this is a school zone or area with children, the limit is actually 25 mph.
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Stone explains how someone going 35-39 mph over the speed limit should be subject to a $269 fine and five points on their license. Drivers who have 12 points on their license are suspended.
It could be much worse for MKBHD, and driving an estimated 60 mph over the limit might be classed as reckless driving. If convicted, this could result in up to 60 days in jail and fines ranging from $50 to $200. If it's not your first offense, you could face three months in jail and a $500 fine.
Brownlee could also be subjected to New Jersey's lesser offense of 'careless driving' - coming with a fine of between $50 and $200 or up to 15 days imprisonment.
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LegalEagle adds: "MKBHD obviously is not the first YouTuber to speed in a sports car, and he certainly won't be the last, but those speed limits are there for a reason. For every additional mile per hour you drive in a car, it increases the risk of death of a pedestrian or other driver if you're in an accident."
He points to 19-year-old Antonio Ginestri, who was arrested when he was linked to an Instagram account that was taunting the police with 'daredevil' stunts in vehicles. Or, what about Trevor Jacob, who was sentenced to six months in prison for purposefully crashing a plane to go viral. As Stone reminds us, don't post your dangerous driving online. It's pretty simple, really.