Did the AI Car Sneak Out at Night? Bizarre Speeding Ticket Issued to Museum-Exhibited 'KITT'

$50 Fine Notice Sent to Illinois Exhibit Car

Museum Challenges the Penalty with Security Footage

The black car "KITT," featured in the popular 1980s American TV series "Knight Rider," was recently reported to have received a speeding ticket in New York in a bizarre turn of events. However, it was confirmed that the actual vehicle has been on display for years at a museum in Illinois, nearly 1,500 kilometers away from New York.

On May 13, Yonhap News TV, citing foreign media including CBS Chicago, reported that the Volo Museum in Volo, Illinois, recently received a notice of a $50 speeding fine—about 70,000 won—from the New York City Department of Finance. According to the notice, KITT was allegedly caught driving at 60 km/h, exceeding the 40 km/h speed limit in a school zone in Brooklyn, New York, on April 22.

However, the museum stated that the car in question has never left the museum premises, let alone traveled to New York, at the time of the incident. The KITT on display is a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, recreated to match the one from the TV series, and has been stationary in the exhibition hall for years. The museum reportedly submitted security camera footage from the time of the alleged speeding violation to prove this. The Volo Museum has requested a hearing to contest the fine. The New York City Department of Finance told foreign media that they are reviewing the matter.

This incident is believed to have been caused by a New York speed enforcement camera misidentifying a decorative license plate attached to another vehicle as KITT's license plate. Foreign media reported that the fine was sent to the museum after the license plate in the enforcement photo was matched with the decorative plate on the museum's display vehicle.

The museum stated on social media, "This is a 100% real situation," adding, "Our KITT hasn't moved in the museum for years." The museum also joked, "Since KITT is an AI car, you never know. We'll check the security cameras." A museum representative further commented, "You're not likely to see a lot of KITT cars driving around New York. I'm curious to know whose car that actually was."

KITT is an artificial intelligence car that appeared in the NBC drama "Knight Rider," which aired from 1982 to 1986, assisting the main character Michael Knight. As the car partnered with Michael Knight—played by David Hasselhoff—to solve cases, its ability to speak and drive itself has made it an enduring symbol of a "futuristic car" in popular culture. Upon hearing the news, internet users reacted with amusement, saying things like, "If it were the real KITT, it would have hidden its license plate before being caught by the speed camera," and "Shouldn't Michael Knight be the one to pay the $50 fine?"