Justin Bieber cited for speeding, claims chase

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 15: Justin Bieber peforms at TODAY Plaza on June 15, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) / Jamie McCarthy

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 15: Justin Bieber peforms at TODAY Plaza on June 15, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

/ Jamie McCarthy

(AP) LOS ANGELES - Heartthrob singer Justin Bieber has been ticketed for speeding on a Los Angeles freeway after being chased by at least one other vehicle, authorities said.

The 18-year-old "Boyfriend" and "Baby" crooner was cited for driving in excess of 65 mph at about 10:45 a.m. on Friday morning, after calls came in complaining of a freeway chase on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Studio City, said Officer Ming Hsu of the California Highway Patrol.

Bieber told officers he was being chased by paparazzi, Hsu said.

"The second vehicle left the area and there's a search to find that driver," Hsu said.

Hsu did not have a description of the other vehicle.

A call and an email to Bieber's publicist weren't immediately returned.

The claim of a chase is backed by eyewitness Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who called authorities after seeing Bieber's distinctive chrome Fisker Karma being chased by five or six other cars.

On his morning commute to City Hall, Zine said he saw Bieber's sports car drive up behind him and zoom around him, weaving wildly in and out of traffic while five or six other cars gave chase.

Zine, who spent 33 years as an officer for the LAPD, estimated the chase exceeded 100 mph as paparazzi engaged in wild maneuvers to keep up with Bieber, including driving on the shoulder and cutting off other vehicles.

Zine said Bieber was breaking the law by driving recklessly and speeding, and the paparazzi were breaking the law by hounding him.

"This was very bizarre, very outrageous and showed a total disregard for life and property," Zine said.

Zine, a witness to countless crashes and fatalities during his time as an officer, said he was surprised no one crashed.

"The way (Bieber) was driving was totally reckless, I would have arrested him if I had pulled him over," said Zine. "I wouldn't have given him a ticket and let him go."

Friday's incident isn't the only time the floppy-haired singer has had conflict with paparazzi. In May, a photographer called authorities, complaining he was roughed up by the pop star in a shopping center, The Commons at Calabasas.

Authorities said the scuffle happened when a photographer tried to snap photos of Bieber and his girlfriend, teen actress Selena Gomez.

In April 2011, Bieber called off a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, saying he cancelled, in part, because he didn't want to face the country's notoriously aggressive paparazzi.

[liberalmike]

Bieber sux!

[audemus]

He should be grounded.

[oregongirltoo]

Why would Justin Bieber have any concern about killing someone with his reckless driving. After all, he is Justin Bieber isn't he? Another example of a self-absorbed, rich, spoiled, and out of touch "celebrity" who actually thinks that he contributes something positive to the world! What a loser.......

[pammmmmm]

Hahaha driving a car like that? The papparazzi won't look hard to find him. Maybe that's what Jah Jah wants :)

[TLUnrine1]

James Dean - maybe he needs to read history, or take his butt back to Canada and kill people on their highways or goat trails - whatever they have up north.

[deuelpete]

You should the book on James Dean. James was not at fault says the one who was in the car with James and lived to tell the truth?

[pammmmmm]

Goat trails? Up here in Canadar we don't need no stinkin goat trails, just sled dog trails, geesh ur not vary brite r ya!

[Oh-Pin-Yun]

Why does he risk his life to avoid getting his picture taken? If it were me I would stop. get out of the car, and pose. I would let so many paparazzi take my picture that pictures of me would be worthless. The way he is dealing with it the only pictures they will have a lot of is the pictures of the accident in which he dies.

[twmat311]

THAT'S the ggreatest point made - the problem is thousands of dolllars for a photo, so if there are so many taken, aren't they worthless? And the selfishness of racing through public streets at these speeds speaks volumes - no respect for fans who may be hurt or killed?

[varigdc10]

I love the USA, only here can absolutely talentless people somehow get into idiotic things that make them millionaires. Bieber, Kardashians, Kate Gosselin, and many similarly useless people.

[nohater]

he should have been arrested and booked. did the chp give bieber a free pass? always thought it was sop to arrest someone for what bieber was doing.

[twmat311]

How many times do LA stars get released after a few hours for "overcrowding"? And how many habitual offenders (Lohan) get slaps on the wrist when you know they'll be back? There seems to be a different law code out there.

[RAS08]

The best thing for this kid, I have always said, is to join the military. Serve his country and maybe develop into another Elvis... If he does it right. At the rate he's going... no way.

[Melanie9304]

I'm sorry to burst a bubble, but there is no way in all of creation that a turd like Bieber could, should, or would ever be compared to Elvis Aaron Presley. Elvis had a talent, a spark, a gift for the world that left this planet when he did. NEVER will we see another even close to him.

{steps down from soap-box & heads back to Memphis to lurk outside the gates of Graceland.}

[bobnjersey]

[The best thing for this kid, I have always said, is to join the military.]
------------------------------------------
what?

the best thing for him is to pursue his dreams ... and that's to be an entertainer ... make piles of money ... and maybe find fulfillment and purpose along the way.

joining the military would be the stupidest thing he could do.

[jaimenote]

Justin singing out through the way that he drives his baby buggy:

"I'm overboard and I need your love, pull me up
I can't swim(drive) on my own, it's too much
Feels like I'm drowning without your love
So throw yourself out to me, my lifesaver..."

-Justin Bieber, 'Overboard' Lyrics

Who will save this young man from himself? Most teens his age don't see the wrong in driving super-fast. Meanwhile many innocents are dying in their wake.