Clout chasing online can lead to real world consequences as the driver of a Dodge Charger Hellcat in Seattle recently learned
4 hours ago
- Seattle police used Instagram posts by driver Miles Hudson (“@srt.miles”) as evidence to charge him with reckless driving.
- Hudson claims his Charger Hellcat is naturally loud, regardless of speed. However, police are taking a firm stance against dangerous driving, citing a recent fatal accident involving an unrelated speeding car.
- If convicted, Hudson faces up to a year in jail, a $5,000 fine, and a 30-day license suspension, highlighting the potential consequences of seeking online fame through risky behavior.
The line between posting content online for clout and incriminating yourself has never been thinner, as the driver of a 2023 Dodge Charger Hellcat SRT in Seattle recently learned. Locally known as the “Belltown Hellcat, the self-described influencer’s Instagram posts have now been used as evidence against him, and he is being charged with reckless driving.
Officially @srt.miles on Instagram, the driver goes by many names, but the police have identified him by his real one, Miles Hudson. His antics have helped him amass more than 600,000 followers on the social media platform, but they have also made him the enemy of many of his neighbors.
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“The vehicle is well known to officers, as it has a modified exhaust system, which can be heard from many blocks away and is very distinctive,” the police report stated.
“Officers were able to locate his Instagram which is under the handle @srt.miles. The vehicle on that account is clearly identifiable as the same vehicle … the same color, wrap, headlights, interior lighting, and in the videos, it is seen driving on the streets of Seattle, as well as coming and going from the apartment where Hudson has been seen going in and out of by officers,” the police report added.
The driver frequently posts videos of his Hemi V8 revving late at night, drawing complaints from people who live as high as 50 stories up, reports The Seattle Times. However, what has people really concerned are the videos he posts of himself speeding.
In one social media posting from February, Hudson allegedly filmed himself racing another Charger at speeds of up to 107 mph (172 km/h) in an area with a speed limit of just 25 mph (40 km/h). The video has since been entered as evidence against the driver, and is the basis on which he is being charged, police say.
Hudson defended his actions, saying that his car is loud no matter what speed he’s going. “The car is loud, whether I am going 10 miles an hour or 200,” he told the newspaper. “It’s a muscle car, it’s going to be loud regardless.”
He added that he feels people are “more bothered that a young Black man has a nice car” than they are concerned about way bigger other issues, like drugs on the streets of Seattle.
Hudson’s alleged actions are more simply annoying, though. The rate at which Americans are dying on the road has been described as a national crisis, and at least last 788 people were killed on Washington roads last year, or more than two per day.
More: Unbelievably Reckless BMW M4 Street Racer Crashes Into Innocent Driver In NYC
And the danger of driving at these kinds of speeds is anything but academic for Seattle residents. Earlier this month, a mother and three children were killed in an accident involving an Audi A4 driving at similar speeds in nearby Renton, Washington. The Seattle Times reports that the driver of the A4 was charged with four cases of vehicular homicide.
As a result, authorities are taking a firm view against speeders, including Hudson. If he is found guilty of reckless driving, he faces up to 364 days of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000. His license may also be suspended for up to 30 days.
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