Richard Hammond, known to car enthusiasts for his work on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has once again found himself in the spotlight for traffic violations. Instead of just playing the role of a passionate car lover on screen, the 56-year-old TV presenter confirmed this image in practice. He pleaded guilty to two speeding offenses that occurred within three weeks in Herefordshire.
Two violations in three weeks
According to local publication Worcester News, the first incident occurred on December 2 last year. Hammond was driving an electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo on the A40 near Pencraig. He was recorded at 68 mph (109 km/h) in a zone where only 50 mph (80 km/h) is allowed.
The second violation happened 20 days later. This time, police radar caught Hammond’s Bentley Continental GT traveling at 82 mph (132 km/h) on Rudhall Overbridge, where the limit is 70 mph (113 km/h).
Difficulties with delivering notices
The case was complicated by the fact that the violation notices sent to several addresses were returned unopened. West Mercia Police initially sent documents to a castle in Herefordshire belonging to Hammond, as well as to a neighboring farm. Only after that were they able to contact him at an address in Wales, where, according to court documents, more than 30 vehicles are registered.
Richard Hammond (Hamster/Buttons) has been fined £999 after he was caught speeding twice in three weeks while driving his Porsche and Bentley
Fines: £333 & £666
Costs: £240
Victim surcharges: £532
⚡️Total: £1771Fine: £999
⚡️666 (Mirror)
⚡️999 = 27 = 9*Porsche = 39 = 12 =…
Court proceedings
Prosecutors also accused Hammond of failing to identify the driver. However, these charges were dropped after his lawyer stated that the presenter had sent a reply by regular first-class mail, identifying himself as the driver. At Telford Magistrates’ Court, Hammond received seven penalty points on his driving license. He was fined £999 for speeding. After adding court costs and victim surcharges, the total amount due was £1,771 (approximately $2,380).
Lead Image: Porsche
In addition to the fine itself, this case once again highlights how large Hammond’s car collection is, officially registered at his Welsh address. Although the TV presenter often jokes about his passion for speed, the real consequences in the form of points and a substantial financial penalty remind us that even for TV stars, traffic rules remain unchanged. This story also demonstrates that the process of holding someone accountable can be complicated by logistical issues, such as delivering notices to multiple addresses — something that happens not only to public figures. Ultimately, for Hammond, this may serve as a reminder to be more careful on the road, especially behind the wheel of such powerful cars as the Porsche and Bentley, which tempt you to press the gas pedal harder than the limits allow.