Man Wears Monkey Mask to Avoid Speed Camera Tickets

One Arizona man has found a creative way to dodge those speeding camera tickets. He wears masks. Really.

He, or someone wearing his mask, has been caught blowing past speed cameras wearing monkey masks, giraffe masks, and several other masks in an effort to skirt the system.

David VonTesmar admits that he owns the masks and has worn them in the past…but doesn’t admit that he’s the person in the speed camera photos.

“I haven’t seen proof it was me,” he says. “I don’t know it was me.”

“I have no reason to believe it was me,” he added, “because I would never operate my vehicle in an unsafe manner.”

Arizona’s Department of Public Safety recently hit VonTesmar with 37 speeding tickets totaling about $6,700 in fines, according to spokesperson Bart Graves.

“We’ve had a lot of frequent fliers who think they can get away with this but (VonTesmar) is the most flagrant,” said Graves.

Graves says that the tickets came from speed cameras along the I-17 corridor as he drove his 2005 white Subaru sedan.

Graves says that VonTesmar also occasionally wears a giraffe or gazelle mask.

“They’re in the front seat of the car,” said VonTesmar, explaining that the masks were gifts from his friends.

“I tell the other people that drive my car, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on, and if you’re going to drive up I-17 or you know, the ones (photo radar cameras) where I know where they’re at,’ I said, ‘If you see that sign (laughs), do what you want to do.’”

“Have I worn the mask? Yes,” he said. “I’m not admitting anything. I’m just saying the masks are in the car. I drive the car, but so do other people.”

On his Facebook page, VonTesmar wrote Wednesday:

As the subject of this article, I would like to tell everyone that there is no proof that I am the driver in all of these photos. Several people that have access to my vehicle and have already called in to the Arizona Republic to state that they also drive this vehicle. I am a safe driver with an outstanding driving record. All those that think I am a blatant reckless and dangerous driver are making an uninformed statement using incomplete facts. I will put my driving history against anyone. I operate my vehicle in a safe fashion and drive with the flow of traffic. There has been no admission of guilt on my part nor have I been convicted of these charges or allegations. I appreciate that this is the United States of America and everyone is entitled to their opinion and can freely state it, however, before you condemn me, please get all the facts and make an informed statement.