Wadsack Faces Tucson Court After High-Speed March Incident

A case against Arizona Sen. Justine Wadsack has been filed in Tucson City Court. She faces a $1,000 civil fine, a potential 30-day jail sentence, year of probation, and $500 fine for criminal speeding after being stopped for allegedly driving twice the speed limit by Tucson police.

The Tucson-area Republican claimed the citation was “political persecution” and criticized both the Tucson Police Department and the press. This prompted the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police to withdraw their endorsement, days before the primary election concluded.

As of Tuesday night, Wadsack was trailing her challenger, former state Sen. Vince Leach, by 911 votes out of over 31,000 cast.

The misdemeanor filing was included in the City Court docket on Tuesday, with a hearing scheduled for August 21.

Wadsack was stopped by a TPD officer on March 15 for allegedly driving 71 mph in a 35 mph zone. The incident occurred just after 10 p.m. when the officer observed her vehicle traveling east on Speedway near North Euclid Avenue.

According to Tucson police, Wadsack was clocked at more than twice the legal limit. She claimed she was “racing home” due to a low car battery.

Wadsack was not cited immediately, as her introduction as “Senator Justine Wadsack” led the officer to contact his superiors. Under “legislative immunity,” members of the Arizona Legislature cannot be arrested or sued while in session, but they can be charged once a session concludes. This year’s session ended on June 15.

Last month, Wadsack refused to meet with TPD to sign the citation, according to authorities. TPD filed a summons for her on Wednesday, expecting she will be served within a week.

Exceeding the posted speed limit by over 20 mph is a class 3 misdemeanor in Arizona, with potential punishments including up to 30 days in jail and up to a year of probation, up to a $500 fine, and three points on a driver’s license. Wadsack also faces a $1,000 civil fine for not providing proof of car insurance.

Tucson city officials highlighted that “persecution” and “prosecution” are different. They argued the “political persecution” claim undermines the reckless driving observed by the officer.

The March incident began when Officer Ryder Schrage, a 12-year veteran, was patrolling eastbound near Euclid. He observed Wadsack’s vehicle, a red 2015 Tesla Model S 85, which was initially clocked at 58 mph. The car later accelerated to 71 mph in a clearly posted 35 mph zone, prompting the officer to pull her over.

The interaction was captured on Schrage’s body camera. Wadsack explained she was “racing to get home” because her car battery was low.

Electrical vehicle expert Michael Ahern debunked her reasoning, stating that no car becomes more efficient when driven faster. He noted that speeding increases wind resistance, reducing efficiency.

On June 27, a TPD officer attempted to arrange for Wadsack to sign the criminal speeding citation, but she refused, claiming she was not speeding and alleging “political persecution.”

Mike Rankin, the Tucson city attorney, explained that “persecution” refers to punishment based on beliefs, while “prosecution” holds someone accountable for legal violations.

Traffic safety remains a priority for the Tucson Police Department. Officer Francisco Magos emphasized that dangerous driving behavior must be addressed regardless of the driver’s status.

The Fraternal Order of Police retracted their endorsement of Wadsack, citing her public criticism of police personnel as conduct unbecoming an elected representative.

The legal concept of legislative immunity intends to prevent interference with lawmakers’ duties but does not apply outside of legislative sessions. City attorney Rankin referenced a similar case involving Rep. Daniel Patterson, who was charged with domestic violence but later acquitted.

The city has moved ahead with Wadsack’s criminal citation. Officer Schrage recently “swore in the summons” in Tucson City Court. In addition to the criminal speeding charge, she faces a civil traffic violation for not providing proof of insurance.

Former Sen. Vince Leach, who lost to Wadsack in the 2022 primary, is seeking a return to the Legislature. He emphasized the risks of speeding, especially around the University of Arizona.

This year, 54 people have been killed in traffic incidents on Tucson streets, slightly more than this time last year.

As the legal proceedings against Wadsack continue, the case underscores the importance of adherence to traffic laws, even among elected officials.