Big Banana Faces Frequent Police Stops Across Montana and Beyond

Steve Braithwaite has driven his 23-foot Big Banana Car over 250,000 miles, enduring hundreds of police stops.

Braithwaite, owner and builder of the whimsical vehicle, was pulled over in Montana, reportedly for a license plate issue, but received no ticket. This stop is part of a long-running pattern: over 15 years, he has faced frequent police attention across the U.S. and Mexico while promoting his unique automobile.

The Big Banana Car, inspired by a 2008 roadside banana sighting, has become a mobile curiosity, funded largely through passenger donations. Braithwaite describes the frequent stops as tradition, noting, “They always find a reason to pull me over.” His travels recently took him into Mexico, where he was pulled over five times in three days. The Montana encounter was just one episode in a broader journey that includes Braithwaite’s goal of a “World Needs More Whimsy Grand Tour,” which he hopes will traverse Central America and eventually circle the globe.

As he moves forward with this global tour, Braithwaite is expected to continue driving his unusual vehicle and encountering law enforcement worldwide.

Giant Banana Pulled Over in Montana: Driver Says Cops Have Stopped Him 100s Of Times
By @daily_cowboy, Cowboy State Daily