A Virginia motorcyclist told police he was speeding at nearly three times the posted limit because he was racing to grab breakfast at McDonald’s before the restaurant switched to its lunch menu.
Manassas police stopped the rider Aug. 16 after recording him traveling 72 mph in a 25 mph zone. Manassas is about 40 minutes outside Washington, D.C. The department later shared body-camera footage of the encounter on X.
“I was movin’ a little quick, wasn’t I?” the rider asked as the officer walked up to him.
“Way too quick,” the officer answered.
The rider said he was trying to make it to McDonald’s for breakfast and was rushing to beat the 11 a.m. menu change. He added that he had left home in such a hurry that he did not even put on socks before setting out.
According to the body-camera video, the traffic stop occurred at 10:43 a.m. on a Sunday—just 17 minutes before most McDonald’s restaurants stop serving breakfast.
“I can see you were rushing,” the officer told him. “Seventy-two is way too fast.”
The motorcyclist appeared surprised when the officer revealed his actual speed.
The officer, who said he also rides motorcycles, explained that traveling that fast creates serious risks for the rider and everyone else on the road.
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The man said he had already spoken with his father, who was “yelling at me, and freaking out” after learning he had ridden like a “dumb ass.”
“He’s not wrong,” the officer said. “At the end of the day, nobody expects that phone call.”
Police issued the rider a reckless-driving ticket along with additional traffic charges. Before ending the stop, the officer delivered one final warning.
“First of all, you know. You ride a bike. I ride a bike. The first thing that’s going to fly off that bike is you,” he said.
“At 72, if someone pulls in front of you? Dude, you’re done. You got to be mindful.”
The Manassas City Police Department also used the post to caution other motorcyclists about the dangers of speeding.
“Speeding can turn a ride into a tragedy. Slow down, stay alert, and ride safe. Your life is worth the extra time,” the department wrote.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 5,730 motorcyclists died nationwide in 2025.
The agency found that speeding was a factor in roughly 36% to 37% of fatal motorcycle crashes.
More than 100 people died in motorcycle-involved crashes in Virginia in 2025, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Speeding is estimated to have played a role in 36 to 56 of those deaths.