Justin Bieber cited for speeding, claims chase

Canadian singer Justin Bieber has been ticketed for speeding on a Los Angeles freeway after being chased by at least one other vehicle, according to reports Friday, July 6, 2012. Bieber said he was being chased by paparazzi, according to the California Highway Patrol. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File)

LOS ANGELES— Authorities say heartthrob singer Justin Bieber has been ticketed for speeding on a Los Angeles freeway after being chased by at least one other vehicle.

California Highway Patrol Officer Ming Hsu says Bieber was cited for driving in excess of 65 mph (104 kph) at about 10:45 a.m. on Friday morning, after calls came in complaining of a freeway chase on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Studio City.

Hsu says Bieber said he was being chased by paparazzi.

The claim of a chase is backed by eyewitness Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who called authorities after seeing Bieber’s distinctive chrome Fisker Karma being chased by five or six other cars.

Zine, a former LAPD officer, says the chase exceeded 100 mph (161 kph).

A call and an email to Bieber’s publicist were not immediately returned.