Wisconsin Man Claims Speeding Ticket Violates Religious Freedom, With Predictable Results

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 18, 2012 7:40PM



Photo credit: Marshall Rosenthal

Some folks will go to great lengths to contest a speeding ticket, but this is the first time we've heard someone claim a speeding ticket was a violation of religious freedom.

Yet that's exactly what Jeffrey L. Manke of Oshkosh, Wisc, did. Manke was was ticketed for driving 71 mph in a 55 mph zone in October 2011. He argued that Wisconsin's speeding statutes were unconstitutional as they violated his religious freedom because they prohibit a person from speeding. Manke claimed in court that his understanding of the Bible indicates he's a man, not a person.

The state court of appeals didn't buy his argument and cut through Manke's semantics.

"Manke does not explain how or why being a 'person' for purposes of the speeding statute is a burden upon his religious beliefs," the court wrote. "We accept Manke’s argument that he is a man. We also accept that,

as a man, he is a 'person' under WIS. STAT. ยง 346.57(4)(h)."

Unless Manke really believes in wasting more of the court's time, we'll assume that he's now rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and paid the fucking speeding ticket.