Back to the Future fan gets speeding ticket for hitting 88mp/h time-travel portal

Doc's DeLorean in a scene from the 1993 film Back To The Future. Photo / Supplied

A Back to the Future fan says he was given a speeding ticket after he was caught going 88 miles per hour (142km/h) in his own DeLorean.

Reaching 88mp/h is the speed that activates the "flux capacitator" in the 1985 film, allowing Doc and Marty to travel back in time in their own modified DeLorean.

Santa Clarita man Spencer White told KTLA5 News he was driving his mother on a freeway when they realised they were three mp/h away from the magic speed.

"My mom, she's looking at me and she just says, 'Take it up to 88, let's do it," White said.

"I was at 88 for about two seconds, and, immediately I saw a police officer behind me."

White said the officer was in on the joke, letting White take a photo of the speed on his marking gun.

"He's even got this big grin on his face like he's won the lottery ... Because of the car and everything, it just was hilarious," he said.

Despite the officer's good humour, White still received a ticket for US$400 (about NZ$563).