Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is not happy about getting a speeding ticket last month, and he took to social media to seek advice after being pulled over by a state trooper.
The 22-year-old Baker said he's facing a $500 ticket after driving at least 75 miles per hour on a local freeway, but he questioned whether it was legal for the state trooper who pulled him over to travel at the speed he was going.
"To my Arizonans... is it legal for Arizona State trooper to drive over speed limit on freeway for no reason?" Baker tweeted Tuesday.
To my Arizonans... is it legal for Arizona State trooper to drive over speed limit on freeway for no reason?
— Budda Baker (@buddabaker32) December 4, 2018
told me “I was driving at least 75 so that means you were driving at least 70” he also said “I admit i was speeding but i can speed, and you can’t” then gave me ticket for 70 smh
— Budda Baker (@buddabaker32) December 4, 2018
Fight the ticket and pay 500 plus for lawyer fees and get ticket off record, or jus pay the 160 ticket and have it on your record, either way they get they money #Rigged!!!
— Budda Baker (@buddabaker32) December 4, 2018
"He was already speeding himself. He said there’s a law in Arizona that says cops can speed, but you can’t as a pedestrian," Baker said Wednesday. "I was amazed. I’ve never heard of that certain type of law. But then again, if he’s telling me something, I’ve got to abide by it."
The Arizona Department of Public Safety issued the following statement RE: Baker's citation:
On November 8, 2018, Bishard K. Baker was stopped by a state trooper on SR 143, MP 2.5 and issued a citation for violation of ARS 28-701A, - speed greater than reasonable and prudent. Mr Baker was traveling at 70 mph within a 55 mph zone. He was given a date and time to appear in justice court.
A native of Washington state, Baker played football at the University of Washington and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl selection for his special-teams play during his rookie season in Arizona.
"(The trooper) said, in his words, 'I admit I was speeding, but you can’t speed.' That’s what he told me. Never heard a cop say that, but then again, hey, I’ve never been pulled over by Arizona police, so I don’t really know how the laws are out here like that," Baker said.
Baker said he and the trooper were driving at about the same speed, and he believes the trooper slowed down so he could pull Baker over.
"But he had his way, I had my way. At the end of the day, I just have to pay the ticket," Baker said.
"That’s what I’m going to do: Just pay the ticket, move on. I just found out there’s a point system in Arizona saying that if you get a certain amount of points, you get your license suspended."
Baker said he didn't receive any usable advice from Arizonans after he tweeted about the ticket Tuesday.
"Not at all. But it’s all right," he said. "I'm good."
