Report: Alex Ovechkin racked up 33 fines for traffic violations during his offseason in Russia
According to Russian outlet Mash on Sport, the Washington Capitals captain racked up 33 separate fines for traffic violations this summer.
The fines totaled 82,000 rubles (approximately $1,000 USD) and covered a variety of violations, including speeding, driving on toll roads, failing to pay parking fees, and stopping or parking in the wrong place.
As of the report’s release, Ovechkin has already paid all but one ticket, which is for 4,500 rubles (approximately $54 USD). The fines come 18 years after Ovechkin once famously tried to eliminate all speed limits in Washington, DC, when he received a key to the city in 2008.
“Today is a big day,” Ovechkin said then. “I have a key for the city. And I’m the president this day in the city, so everybody have fun — and no speed limit.”
Ovechkin received all the tickets while in his Aurus Arsenal minivan, a luxury vehicle produced by automaker Aurus Motors in Moscow, Russia. The minivan, which is not available for public purchase, is also used by many Russian government officials because it has an armored body style.
The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer has owned a slew of impressive cars over the course of his career, once even admitting in the past that his primary hobby was collecting cars. Ovechkin has also been gifted multiple cars throughout his career, most recently receiving a Jetour T2 4×4 Premium SUV at last summer’s Match of the Year.
“[It’s my] main hobby, my dream, and there is nothing I can do about it,” Ovechkin said in 2013. “The more [cars], the better, but in fact my parents already tell me: ‘Sasha, why do you need so many?’”
Ovechkin is soon expected to fly back to DC from Russia for the start of Capitals training camp, with Match TV reporting Sunday that he will be back stateside on September 10.
