Bodycam footage released of Arizona State Senator Justine Wadsack, of driving twice speed limit
By: State Sen. Justine Wadsack (R) lost an endorsement after failing to comply with the Tucson Police Department on a speeding violation.
Wadsack was pulled over in Tucson around 10 p.m. on March 15. She was allegedly speeding near Speedway and Euclid, which is near the University of Arizona campus.
“My name is Senator Justine Wadsack, and I am racing to get home because I have four miles left on my charger before I’m about to go down,” Wadsack said in the bodycam video.
According to the incident report by police officer Ryder Schrage, and the bodycam footage, Wadsack was driving her Tesla 71 mph in a 35 mph zone.
“Speedway is a 35-mile-an-hour zone,” Schrage said.
“I understand,” Wadsack responded.
“You were doing over 70,” Schrage said.
“I was not doing 70.” Wadsack responded.
“Yes, you were, I was behind you. I had my radar on,” Schrage said.
Wadsack did not sign the citation for speeding that night due to legislative immunity.
Arizona law states “Members of the legislature shall be privileged from arrest in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, and they shall not be subject to any civil process during the session of the legislature, nor for fifteen days next before the commencement of each session.”
However, when TPD Lt. Lauren Pettey contacted Wadsack after the session adjourned in June, the senator still refused to sign the citation.
The incident narrative supplement report filed by Pettey claims Wadsack demanded to speak with Chief Chad Kasmar, and she claimed she was under “political persecution.”
Criminal defense attorney Carlos A. Medina said she should have signed the citation immediately. Most importantly, though, Medina said she should’ve followed the law.
“This is about people’s lives,” Medina said. “This is why we have laws in place against criminal speeding, is so that we don’t kill people.”
The violation does not disappear if an individual refuses to sign the citation, whether they are an elected official or not.
According to Medina, it only prolongs the process of officially serving her, with the court now having to serve her through mail or a process server.
“The prosecutors are going to do what they do. That’s what they do. She’s hurting herself politically,” Medina said.
Her campaign for re-election for the 17th District has already taken a hit.
The Arizona Fraternal Order of Police had endorsed Wadsack for her support of law enforcement. But since her claim of political persecution and refusal to comply with TPD, the organization took back the endorsement.
In a statement, Fraternal Order of Police President Paul Sheldon said, “While Sen. Wadsack has been a consistent supporter of public safety in her official capacity, this incident and her decision to publicly impugning the motives of police personnel is conduct unbecoming an elected representative.”
He also said, “Like everyone else accused of a traffic violation, Sen. Wadsack is innocent until proven guilty. But attacking police personnel for doing their jobs is simply unacceptable.”