The Arizona Senator escaped speeding tickets due to a loophole in the state's constitution as he drives more than 20 mph at speed limit.
State Sen. Jake Hoffman was driving 89 mph on the 65 mph zone of US Route 60 on Jan. 22, so when troopers pulled him over for speeding, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. ABC 15.
However, “troopers have recognized and confirmed that Hoffman is an Arizona Senator and is currently in legislative meeting,” the agency told the outlet.
The troopers recorded that he pulled the senator, but the officers did not choose to give tickets to Republican lawmakers for sessions per Section 4, Section 2, Section 6 and Section 6 of the Arizona Constitution.
section situation “Members of the Congress will be given privileges from arrest in all cases except treason, felony, and violations of peace, and they shall not be subject to the civil process for 15 days during the session of the Congress or prior to the commencement. For each session.
When Hoffman was handed over and the speeding violation was considered a copper-state civil matter, Congress was currently taking place during a session in Arizona, so the troopers allowed him to leave without quoting him. did.
Hoffmann did not seek special treatment and did not mention his immunity during the traffic stop, a senator spokesman told the outlet.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety can issue a quote after a legislative meeting, but the agency has not commented whether there is a plan.
The case with Hoffman is not the first time a controversial legislative immunity has been called.
Two other Arizona state lawmakers, Sen. Mark Finchem and former state senator Justin Wadsack, avoided speeding because of the immunity clause.
Finchem was pulled on January 25th for driving 48 mph in a 30 mph zone in northern Arizona. AZ Family It has been reported.
However, Finchem rejected the ticket from the Prescott Police Station, demanding that it be “nullified from records and be attacked.”
Wadsack was recorded in March 2023 while driving 71 mph in the 35 mph zone near Tucson. AZ Central.
Wadsack did not receive the quote when he was pulled, but the Tucson Police Department submitted it after the session was over.
Her lawyer later moved to dismiss the case, but the judge refused, as it included crimes of crime speeding rather than civilian charges, given the speed she was driving.
The controversial loophole has prompted Republican Rep. Quang Nguyen to introduce a resolution to stop legislative exemptions for all traffic violations.
“Elected officials should not have the special privileges that allow them to break the law without accountability,” Nguyen said earlier this month. AZ Family.
“The people we serve are expected to follow traffic laws, and so are legislators. If a lawmaker commits speeding, red lights, or other traffic violations, the same results as others. You should be facing it.”
Nguyen pointed out that “the road rules must not be exceeded” and that “the same laws that lawmakers create and enforce.”
“We are lawmakers, not lowbreakers,” he said.
Nguyen says the Arizona home will consider the resolution. The vote will be placed in a vote to decide whether voters will pass or not in the 2026 election.
