Filmmaker Tyler Perry has U.S. Tv host Jay Leno to thank for getting him out of a traffic ticket after he name-dropped the local celebrity as he was pulled over on his way to the funnyman's studio.

The Alex Cross star was rushing to a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday (23May13), when he bypassed a ramp metre as he was merging onto the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles, where red and green light signals are used to regulate the flow of traffic.

However, Perry admits the officer let him off with just a warning when he mentioned he was on his way to visit the beloved comedian.

During his appearance on the show, he said, "I got pulled over on my way here. You know that thing that says one car per green when you're about to merge onto the 101? They mean that. I jumped the light. I waited a few minutes, but I was late, the traffic was bad...

"Officer Jay Meyer pulled me over, he was really great though, he was really professional. He was like, 'Where are you going?' 'I'm going to see Jay Leno,' - you got me out of trouble.

"He said, 'I'm gonna let you go this time, but don't ever do it again.' I said, 'Yes, sir. Yes, sir...' It was a get out of jail free card!"