A California man named Ray says Border Patrol pulled him over after he allegedly went just 3 MPH over the speed limit. Ray posted the encounter on TikTok, saying he was surprised by the stop after recently retiring from the military following 20 years of service. The video quickly took off, drawing more than 139,000 views and 6,000 likes.
In the video, Ray tells the agent, “It’s just a shame that I’ve done 20 years, and you’re pulling me over.” The two have a brief exchange, during which the agent says he is also a veteran and served 14 years. When Ray asks why he was stopped, the agent tells him, “You were going 68 in a 65; that’s why I pulled you over.”
Ray appears surprised that the alleged violation was only 3 MPH over the limit, but the agent responds, “That’s still speeding.” When Ray brings up his military service, the agent asks, “When I’m pulling up alongside you, how am I supposed to know you’re a veteran just by looking at you?” Ray is eventually told that if nothing else comes up, such as a warrant, he will be free to go.
The reason for the stop raises a separate question, though. Border Patrol agents do not generally enforce California traffic laws, and the Ninth Circuit has held that a California traffic violation alone cannot justify a Border Patrol vehicle stop. Agents on roving patrols can stop vehicles under certain circumstances, but they generally need reasonable suspicion tied to immigration or another federal enforcement matter, not simply a speeding violation.
Viewers Question Why California Border Patrol Stopped Ray
Ray’s video quickly sparked questions about why Border Patrol stopped him in the first place. While some viewers suspected profiling, others focused on whether a Border Patrol agent could pull someone over solely for speeding. “68 over 65? Bruh! You serious? He’s profiling you for sure,” one person wrote. Another agreed, “Unlawful stop. Being pulled over solely for speed is outside of Border Patrol’s federal mandate.” A third said, “Speeding is not an adequate reason for CBP to pull someone over. They are not traffic cops, nor can they enforce traffic laws.”
Other viewers focused less on Border Patrol’s authority and more on Ray bringing up his military service. “Military or not, don’t speed,” one person argued. Another asked, “As a veteran, why do people think cops owe us something just because we served?” A third added, “They do not care if you served in the military or are active military.”
Ray ultimately wasn’t ticketed and was allowed to leave, but the debate didn’t end with the traffic stop. What remains unclear is whether the agent had another reason for stopping Ray beyond the alleged 68-in-a-65 speeding violation, something the original video doesn’t establish.
