Lawyer confirms MKBHD could face jail time for speeding despite YouTube edits

Lawyer and YouTuber Devin Stone, known online as Legal Eagle, got involved in the drama surrounding Marquess Brownlee (MKBHD) after he came under fire for speeding and then shared footage of it.

Tech YouTuber MKBHD has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons lately. In a video uploaded to YouTube on Nov. 11, the influencer was seen driving at 96 mph in a 35 mph zone, even flying past a “Be Careful Kids” sign.

Realizing that this moment remained in the edit, he cut it, and then turned to crime in social networks. “The only thing I can do is apologize and promise never to do anything like this nonsense again,” he said. “It’s a terrible example, and I’m sorry for that.”

Since then, it’s back to business as usual, with the YouTuber continuing to share new content, despite the criticism that still continues. However, given that the clip has been around forever on the internet, there are questions as to whether it can still be slapped with consequences after the fact.

scholar YouTuber and experienced lawyer Devin Stone switched to own channel, Legal eagleto explain how the law can be affected. “Yes,” he said immediately, “the viral footage can actually be used against (MKBHD) in court.”

Because Brownlee lives in New Jersey, it’s a bit of a gray area about what can be considered “reckless driving,” Stone noted. Rather than any general rules, “each case is looked at individually to determine what the driver’s thinking and actions were,” he explained.

According to one possible definition, reckless driving is “punishable by imprisonment in the county or municipal jail for up to 60 days,” at least if it’s a first offense. If not, the penalty can be increased to three months in prison along with some fines.

Stone then confirmed again that the MKBHD speeding footage could indeed be used as evidence. So if local authorities come across the clip and want to press charges, the clip will be there to prosecute the YouTuber.

This is exactly what happened to another YouTuber, Trevor Jacob, in 2022. After intentionally crashing a plane to go viral on the platform, he was punished by the law. Jacob was not only deprived of his pilot’s license, but also sentenced to six months in prison.

For now, it remains to be seen whether New Jersey authorities will be willing to file a lawsuit. Although they have every right to do so, regardless of how MKBHD edited the footage or confessed to their actions.