An Arizona legislator avoided a speed -like ticket last month because as a member of the state legislator he has something that is called 'legislative immunity'.
Senator Jake Hoffman, a Republican who has been in office since 2021, was persuaded on January 22 because he went 89 km / h in a zone of 65 MPH, but was not pulled because of his immunity, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
“The Trooper acknowledged and verified that Mr Hoffman is a senator of the state of Arizona and is currently in the legislative session,” a spokesperson for the office told ABC15.
Legislative immunity is granted to legislators on the basis of section 6 of the Arizona state group.
'Members of the legislative power will in all cases be privileged, except betrayal, crime and violation of peace, and they will not be subject to any civil process during the session of the legislative power, nor for fifteen days at the start of each session, “the section reads.
With the legislative power currently in the seat and the fact that most speeding violations in the state of Arizona are considered, Hoffman got a pass.
A Hoffman spokesperson said ABC15 that he did not mention his immunity during the traffic stop. But when the officer realized who Hoffman was and confirmed that he was a legislator, he did not get a ticket, the spokesperson added.
Two other legislators in Arizona have avoided speeding violations in recent history, including state senator Mark Finchem on January 25 this year and former state representative Paul Mosley in 2018.
Senator Jake Hoffman, a Republican who has been in office since 2021, was persuaded on January 22 for going 89 km / h in a zone of 65 MPH. He has not had a ticket because he has legislative immunity when the legislative power is in the hearing
In the case of Mosley, he was persuaded in his district near Parker, Arizona, a rural area more than 150 miles west of Phoenix.
Mosley went 97 km / h in a 55 mph zone on State Route 95, CBS reported at the time.
Mosley admitted on a body camera video that he sometimes drove 130, 140, 120 'to come home to surprise his wife, adding that he did not notice the speed because of the beautiful wheels and suspension of his vehicle.
“I don't break the law because I can do it, but because I know, I just try to get home,” he said in the video. Mosely also told the officer who pulled him not to waste time to give him a ticket because of his legislative immunity.
Mosley later apologized into a post on social media, but the video of him that seemed to scoop up about his ability to speed caused a ground swell of anger in the state.
After the incident, the former Republican Governor Doug Ducey tried to take a law to end the legislative immunity, but it was unable to go somewhere.
Republican state representative Quang Nguyen brought in the effort to put an end to the immunity for traffic violations with a bill that he introduced last week, less than a month after Hoffman was caught on speed.
“We are legislators. So number one, we don't have to break the laws, “said Nguyen. “We have to show the people we make laws for everyone, including us.”
Displayed: former state representative Paul Mosley is depicted in a video video from the police in 2018. He was persuaded because he was about the speed limit 42 miles per hour. At the time, the video inspired the governor to insist on reform
Republican state representative Quang Nguyen brought in the effort to put an end to the immunity for traffic violations with a bill that he introduced last week. Debbie Logan, a resident of Arizona, agrees with the bill
Debbie Logan, a resident of Arizona, agrees with the bill and says that the law to everyone must apply and that there should be no special care for legislators.
“I don't believe it is fair,” she said. “I attend different meetings and always allow myself enough time to get there.”
Currently, the legislators receive a sticker that they can show on their license that they can show to police officers in case they are persuaded.
“I tore it off,” said Nguyen. “I just want to live my life like you.”
If the Nguyen bill is adopted, the change for voters is made as a voice initiative in the 2026 elections.
