Body cam footage shows Tucson Sen. Justine Wadsack's encounter with police for speeding

A state police group revoked its endorsement of Tucson Sen. Justine Wadsack after she claimed “political persecution” in refusing to sign a criminal citation for excessive speeding.

Wadsack was clocked by radar at 71 mph in a 35 mph zone on Speedway near Euclid at about 10 p.m. March 15, said Sgt. Richard Gradillas, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. She also failed to produce proof of insurance, saying she had recently changed her insurance, he said.

“She was not cited the night of the incident due to legislative immunity as a result of her being in (legislative) session,” he said. “She was contacted after the session was over and did not want to meet officers to receive her citation. A complaint was sworn into City Court and it is currently in their hands to talk to her. A summons was the next step.”

The legislative immunity clause prevents elected officials from being cited or arrested while in legislative session. The session, which began in January, ended June 15.

On June 27, Tucson police Lt. Lauren Petty contacted Wadsack, and the senator demanded to speak to the police chief and argued she was under “political persecution,” the Star confirmed. The Tucson Sentinel was the first to report the criminal speeding citation and Wadsack’s “persecution” claim, in an article Friday.

In retracting its primary election endorsement of Wadsack, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police said in a news release Tuesday: “Wadsack argued that the ticket amounted to ‘political persecution’ and refused to sign the citation before hanging up on the lieutenant. In a subsequent social media post, Wadsack claimed that she is ‘investigating the TPD’ and accused the department of acting in a ‘highly irregular’ manner.

“To be clear, Wadsack was treated in strict accordance with the law — and with consummate respect — by all the TPD team members she encountered,” the police organization  continued, saying it represents more than 9,400 members statewide.

“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," Paul Sheldon, president of the group, was quoted in the news release.  

Exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 20 mph is considered a class three misdemeanor. Wadsack could face up to 30 days in jail and up to a year of probation and a fine of up to $500.

Wadsack did not respond to multiple inquiries for comment from the Star, including phone calls, text messages and a direct message on X, formerly Twitter.

She is running for re-election in Legislative District 17 and faces a challenge from former state Sen. Vince Leach in the Republican primary election on July 30.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

The Sentinel reported Wadsack was pulled over while driving a red 2015 Tesla Model S 85, and that she told police she was racing to get home because the Tesla only had four miles left on its electric charger.

However, Tesla owners’ manuals say to “slow down your driving” and “avoid rapid acceleration” to maximize driving range.

Wadsack posted Saturday on Facebook: “I am not 'above the law', I have acted within the law and the Constitution. The media and my opponent are desperate for content.”

She wrote that she hasn’t been summoned and that, “Had I been given a ticket by the officer, I would have taken it to the Capitol and asked Legislative Council what the next steps were. … As a new legislator, I didn’t know my rights, and neither did he (the officer), so he let me go.”

“In July, I got a call from a TPD officer … to come sign for a ticket they’re giving me based on a body cam footage from 4-months prior. As a new legislator, I had never heard of ticketing me months later as it’s not in the language of the law. I still get mixed messages as to how this should have been handled by police … and have talked to different legal advisors in the know.”

She eventually added, “To be clear, I still back the blue.”

Leach, her primary election opponent, called on Wadsack Tuesday to apologize for her treatment of police.

“Justine Wadsack is way out of line,” Leach told the Star. “Not only was she endangering the Tucson community with her incredibly reckless driving, but she then had the nerve to question the integrity of our law enforcement community with her baseless claims against the Tucson Police Department. She needs to apologize immediately for her anti-police views.”