--- title: "Man Driving Giant Banana Gets Pulled Over in Montana" date: "2026-06-23" modified: "2026-06-23" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/man-driving-giant-banana-gets-pulled-over-in-montana" categories: - "News" --- # Man Driving Giant Banana Gets Pulled Over in Montana ![]() *\Montana State Police Facebook\* We cover lots of hard news here at *The Drive.* Y'know, the stuff that keeps you updated on the automotive industry and enthusiast scene. Other times, we don't. Other times, we write silly car-related stuff because it's fun. This is one of those times. A giant banana recently got pulled over in Montana, and as the [*Cowboy State Daily*]() put it, it wasn't its first time. According to the Montana State Police, the giant banana car and its driver, Steve Braithwaite, were pulled over near Billings because part of the license plate was blocked. He did not receive a ticket. Also, the plate reads "SPLIT." "We’ve stopped speeders, distracted drivers, and even a few unusual vehicles… but this one definitely stands out. The Big Banana Car was stopped cruising near Billings today. While it may be apPEALing, traffic laws still apply to fruit. 😎 🍌 Safe travels, Montana," said the Montana State Police's Facebook page. According to the report, Braithwaite has been pulled over hundreds of times over the decade he's been driving his banana car across the country. In fact, he believes that during the first few years he had the thing, he was one of the most frequently pulled-over men in America. "Driving around in a banana and having all these people, all these smiles and waves, affects me. It actually does something fantastic,” he told the outlet. He even claims to have been pulled over once for "peeling out," which was, of course, a joke. Another [report]() claims that Braithwaite began working on the fiberglass banana in 2008 and finished it in 2011. It's based on a 1993 Ford F-150 and is a bout 23 feet from tip to tip. Keep on keepin' on, Steve. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()