On this day.....

On this day in 1899, for the first time in American history, an automobile driver was arrested for speeding.

He was, wonder of wonders, a New York City cab driver.

His name was Jacob German and he drove for the Electrical Vehicle Company of Manhattan.



According to police reports, he was arrested for racing recklessly up Lexington Avenue at a speed "in excess of 12 miles an hour." The arrest was made by an officer named Shuessler who was a "Bicycle Roundsman" (a group of policemen on bikes so they could navigate streets congested with horse traffic and its residue).



The officer intercepted German on Lex not far from the 22nd Street station house where he was booked.

Legend has it that the cabby claimed his passenger had told him to "step on it."

There is no record of the passenger's name or whether there was a tip.

Uniquely among New York City cab drivers, German reportedly spoke English.
 
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