Here's Why We Don't Post Videos of Ourselves Speeding
This seems like a silly public service announcement to have to make, but it’s imprudent to post videos of yourself breaking traffic laws. Beau Alan Rogel of Rankin County, Mississippi found that out the hard way after live streaming his attempt to break 180 mph in his wife’s 2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.
In the midst of his feat, a viewer decided to contact police and notify them that Rogel was traveling at excessive speeds, helpfully mentioning where he could be found. The video, which he reposted on YouTube, includes the moment where he is pulled over and (understandably) denies everything he had just been explaining to his audience.
While not arrested at the time, the Rankin County Deputies on scene clearly understand what is happening, commenting that his camera phone is still streaming as they try to interrogate him on the side of the road.
They let him go, but Rogel was arrested shortly thereafter. The Mustang was confiscated so police could pull driving data off the vehicle’s computer.
However, it wasn’t the singular video that got the driver in trouble. According to local reports from WSAZ, in addition to on-road shenanigans, Rogel had also posted images of several firearms — occasionally as part of a sale. Normally, the Second Amendment would make this a non-issue, but Rogel’s status as a felon complicates things. Deputies recovered two weapons from his home and charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in addition to the reckless driving charge.
His wife, Christina Ann Rogel, was also arrested. After posting bail, she took to the still-active YouTube account to explain they are getting a divorce and how she desperately tried to prevent him from leaving the house in her car. The video was streamed in a Q&A format and frequently included Mr. Rogel, leading many viewers to suggest that he should stop posting incriminating materials online — which really should have gone without saying.
While the best way to avoid legal scrutiny is to consistently drive within the limits of the law, a good backup plan is to not stream footage of yourself violating those laws when your foot grows heavy. Thanks to the numerous videos, Rogel made it about as easy for authorities to investigate as humanly possible.
Christina received a $2,000 bond while Beau a got $20,000. He’s scheduled to face the Rankin County Grand Jury for his felony charges later this year. Rankin County District Attorney John “Bubba” Bramlett will handle the prosecution.
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Impounding the car to "download data from the computer"...while his behavior is reprehensible, the fact that "authorities" can take his car and steal the data out of it is even more troubling. We are in a real bad direction in this country when it comes to privacy and data collection.
Matt Posky writes: "While not arrested at the time, the Rankin County Deputies on scene clearly understand what is happening" Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?