Animal makes a monkey of traffic cops

A British Audi driver with a sense of humour - a rare thing, we know - has shot to the top of German traffic police’s most wanted list. The driver has been caught speeding on several occasions, but police can’t prosecute - because of the large Muppet puppet in the passenger seat.

Speed cameras in Germany are designed to take a photo of the left-hand seat - where the driver usually is - but because British cars are right-hand drive, the photo they end up with is of Animal, the Muppets’ hyperactive drummer.

A German police source said:

“The number plate is not enough. We need clear evidence of who is driving the vehicle too. But because this is a British vehicle we can never get a decent picture. The driver has obviously worked this out because he has placed a large puppet in the passenger seat.

“This may be an example of the famous British sense of humour but it is still dangerous driving. The driver has been caught on camera on several occasions and the puppet is on the passenger seat every time. We suspect he positions the toy deliberately before accelerating past the camera.”

Britain 1, Germany 0.

[Boing Boing]

German F1 legend caught speeding in homeland

“Who do you think you are sir, Nigel Mansell?”

“Nein, Ich bin Michael Schumacher…”

Yes, Schumi has been caught speeding, on an autobahn near his German hometown of Kerpen. The multiple F1 world champ was fined €75 and docked three points on his driving licence, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Schumacher was at the wheel of an Audi Cabriolet, but we don’t yet know what speed he was going - although German police have confirmed that he was stopped for speeding in a 100kph zone. German media reports suggest he was clocked at 140kph (around 75mph).