A driver accused of speeding at more than 100 mph on an Arizona freeway offered an excuse that quickly caught a state trooper’s attention. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the driver claimed he was rushing because he desperately needed to find a restroom.
The explanation, however, did little to change the outcome of the traffic stop. As the investigation continued, what began as a criminal speeding stop quickly turned into an arrest after troopers uncovered information that raised even more questions.
Arizona DPS says the driver was eventually booked into the Maricopa County Jail, with investigators alleging that the speeding violation was only one part of what they discovered during the encounter.
The incident has since gone viral online, where many people joked about the driver’s bathroom excuse, while others praised the traffic stop, saying it serves as another reminder that routine enforcement often uncovers much larger cases.
The Driver Said He Couldn’t Wait To Find a Restroom
The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a Highway Patrol state trooper was conducting speed enforcement along Loop 202 in Mesa on July 26 when a vehicle caught the officer’s attention. Authorities say the driver was first clocked traveling 106 mph in a 65-mph zone before accelerating to 112 mph as the trooper initiated a traffic stop near McKellips Road.
Once the vehicle came to a stop, the trooper asked the driver why he had been traveling at such a dangerous speed. The driver reportedly explained that he was trying to find a restroom because he urgently needed to use the bathroom.
Arizona DPS said the explanation wasn’t enough to justify driving at criminal speeds. Officers also noted that the driver had already passed several bathrooms along his route before reaching the location where he was pulled over.
What appeared to be a straightforward criminal speeding investigation, however, was only beginning. As the trooper continued asking routine questions, the encounter quickly shifted in a direction neither the driver nor anyone watching the video likely expected.
The Driver’s Identity Changed the Entire Investigation
As the traffic stop continued, Arizona DPS says the driver attempted to mislead the trooper by providing a false name. The information didn’t match what officers were expecting, prompting investigators to use biometric identification to confirm who they were dealing with.
That process, authorities say, revealed the driver’s true identity — and with it, a much more serious situation than a criminal speeding violation.
Arizona DPS said the driver was wanted on three active state warrants and one federal warrant at the time of the stop. What had started as an investigation into excessive speeding quickly became an arrest after troopers confirmed the outstanding warrants.
The driver was taken into custody and booked into the Maricopa County Jail. DPS also used the incident to remind motorists that providing false information during a traffic stop can lead to additional consequences, particularly when officers have other tools available to verify a person’s identity.
Why Driving 112 MPH Can Lead to Criminal Charges in Arizona
In Arizona, driving at the speeds alleged in this case is more than a routine traffic violation. Under state law, a driver can be charged with criminal speeding if they exceed 85 mph, drive 20 mph or more over the speed limit in a business or residential district, or travel at a speed that authorities determine is unreasonable for the conditions.
Because the driver was allegedly traveling 112 mph in a 65-mph zone, the incident fell well beyond the threshold for criminal speeding. Unlike a standard civil speeding ticket, criminal speeding is a misdemeanor offense that can require a mandatory court appearance and may carry penalties including fines, probation, license consequences, or even jail time, depending on the circumstances and a driver’s record.
Arizona DPS says the incident serves as a reminder that there is never a safe justification for driving at dangerous speeds. The agency also emphasized that attempting to avoid responsibility by providing false information to law enforcement often results in even more serious consequences than the original violation.
The Driver’s Bathroom Excuse Quickly Became the Internet’s Favorite Part of the Story
After Arizona DPS shared details of the traffic stop, social media users wasted little time turning the driver’s explanation into the biggest talking point. Many joked that, based on how the stop ended, the driver may have regretted not pulling into one of the many restrooms he had already passed.
“Yea, but didn’t he pee his pants in the back of the squad car? He WASN’T LYING,” one commenter joked. Another blamed the driver’s sense of urgency on a fast-food meal, writing, “Must of eat at Taco Bell he gotta go that bad.” Others were far less sympathetic, arguing that no emergency justified driving at such dangerous speeds. “When someone would say they were speeding because of a bathroom emergency, I would write the ticket faster,” one viewer commented.
Beyond the unusual excuse, many commenters focused on what the traffic stop ultimately uncovered. Several praised the trooper for allegedly identifying a driver with multiple outstanding warrants, saying it was another example of why proactive traffic enforcement remains an important policing tool. “Great job! Traffic stops yield great results in capturing people with outstanding warrants,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Thank you DPS for getting one more criminal off the streets. Great job.”