Two Men Face Jail Time After Illegally Driving a Rented Porsche Macan in Death Valley National Park
Rented Porsche only made it 200 yards before getting stuck in the mud. The driver was issued a citation and must appear in court.
Driving a rented Porsche can be a lot of fun. That is the whole point, isn’t it? Otherwise, just rent yourself a Toyota Corolla and be on your way. But if you are going to rent a Porsche you should do two things. First, fully understand what the capability of the vehicle is. Second, you need to know and obey the local traffic laws. Well, one driver in California is finding out the hard way what happens when you don’t do either of those things. According to a Death Valley National Park press release two men in a rented Porsche Macan S decided to drive off-road from Badwater Basin to a salt flat two miles away.
That journey may sound like fun, but it is illegal. “Vehicles driving off roads can damage fragile ecosystems and damage archeological sites,” said Superintendent Mike Reynolds. “They also impact the experience of other park visitors. People want to take photographs of the park’s beautiful landscapes without car tracks in the picture, which can last for many years.” Thankfully for the environment the trip lasted just 200 yards before the Porsche became stuck in the deep mud.
Porsche Macan S
The Porsche Macan S is a fantastic vehicle to drive. It is quick, handles extremely well, is loaded with technology, and is well-built. The Macan S also features an all-wheel drive system that works well when the road turns slippery. But what the Macan S is not, is a hardcore off-road vehicle. Any logical person should be able to take one look at the muddy landscape and realize that a stock Macan S, on what appears to be 21-inch 911 Turbo wheels and high-performance street tires, is not going to be able to traverse the terrain. But apparently the men that rented this Porsche felt otherwise.
Making Matters Worse
So, the men overestimated the capability of the vehicle they rented and broke the law. But their bad decision making didn’t stop there. Once they got stuck, they should have contacted the park rangers who would work with the National Park Service staff to aid in getting the vehicle safely out of the mud. Instead, the men decided to hire a pickup truck to pull them out. The pickup truck then also got stuck in the mud. Eventually the Porsche was able to get out after the men dug holes around the vehicle. The pickup truck was towed out of the mud a couple days later.
Consequences
The National Park Service installed signs to deter others from trying to make this same trip. But the damage has been done. You can see in the photos the deep holes and tire tracks that were made by the vehicles. This will take time and effort to repair. And the trouble for the men in the rented Porsche is not over either. Drivers that are cited for illegal off-road driving in Death Valley National Park can face fines of up to $5,000 or 6 months in jail.
Images: NPS/S. Solomon; Porsche
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