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The year was 1896. Englishman Walter Arnold had imported a German-made Benz motorcar to the U.K. and must have ben curious what his new horseless carriage could do. So on January 28th, he tore through the town of Paddock Wood in Kent at 400% of the speed limit. But his reckless 8 mph in a 2 mph zone speeding ticket might have just been a publicity stunt for the new car.

The fast story of the world’s first speeding ticket

The good folks of Paddock Wood were used to traffic slowing to a respectful trot in town. So imagine their shock when the newfangled Benz Patent-Motorwagen rocketed through the village.

The police weren’t having it. An officer immediately tore after Arnold, caught him, and pulled him over. How? The officer was riding a bicycle.

Authorities decided to throw the book at Arnold. Maybe they wanted to make an example out of the town’s first speeder. In the end, he faced four charges. Traveling faster than 2 mph was just the beginning of his woes. He had also failed to clearly display his name and address on the “locomotive.” He attempted to operate said locomotive with fewer than three persons–another big “no no.” And finally, he was operating the infernal contraption on a public road.

Records don’t show how police established that Arnold was going 8 mph. And perhaps his speed wasn’t important. In hindsight, if he wasn’t allowed on the public road at all, the world’s first “speeding ticket” was just extra charges piled on top.

Justice in Paddock Wood worked fast. A magistrate found Arnold guilty of all four counts on January 30th. He dutifully paid his four pounds, seven shillings fine. Ten shillings of that was for his excessive speed. And before you say Arnold got off easy, know that four pounds in 1896 would be the equivalent of $921 USD today.

So was it worth it? Well I imagine the town was abuzz about Arnold’s contraption on Main Street. A few months later he began taking orders for the “Arnold Motor Carriage.” That car was his own locally built and licensed version of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Henry covers Ford models daily, including the F-150. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.

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