An Arizona lawmaker avoided a speeding ticket last month because as a member of the state legislature, he has something called ‘legislative immunity.’
State Senator Jake Hoffman, a Republican who’s been in office since 2021, was pulled over on January 22 for going 89mph in a 65mph zone but wasn’t ticketed because of his immunity, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
‘The Trooper recognized and verified that Mr. Hoffman is an Arizona State Senator, and currently in legislative session,’ a spokesperson for the agency told ABC15.
Legislative immunity is granted to lawmakers based on Section 6 of the Arizona State Constitution.
‘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,’ the section reads.
With the legislature currently in session and the fact that most speeding violations are considered civil in the state of Arizona, Hoffman was given a pass.
A spokesperson for Hoffman told ABC15 that he didn’t mention his immunity during the traffic stop. But when the officer realized who Hoffman was and confirmed he was a lawmaker, he wasn’t given a ticket, the spokesperson added.
Two other Arizona legislators have avoided speeding violations in recent history, including State Senator Mark Finchem on January 25 of this year and former State Representative Paul Mosley in 2018.
State Senator Jake Hoffman, a Republican who’s been in office since 2021, was pulled over on January 22 for going 89mph in a 65mph zone. He wasn’t ticketed because he has legislative immunity when the legislature is in session
In Mosley’s case, he was pulled over within his district near Parker, Arizona, a rural area more than 150 miles west of Phoenix.
Mosley had been going 97 mph in a 55 mph zone on state Route 95, CBS reported at the time.
Mosley admitted on a police body camera video that he sometimes drove ‘130, 140, 120,’ to get home to surprise his wife, adding that he didn’t notice the speed because of his vehicle’s nice wheels and suspension.
‘I don’t break the law because I can, but because, you know, I’m just trying to get home,’ he said in the video. Mosely also told the officer who pulled him over not to waste time trying to give him a ticket because of his legislative immunity.
Mosley later apologized in a social media post, but the video of him appearing to brag about his ability to speed caused a groundswell of anger in the state.
Following the incident, former Republican Governor Doug Ducey tried to pass a law to end legislative immunity but it failed to go anywhere.
Republican State Representative Quang Nguyen revived the effort to end immunity for traffic violations with a bill he introduced last week, coming less than a month after Hoffman was caught speeding.
‘We are lawmakers. So number one, we shouldn’t break laws,’ Nguyen said. ‘We need to show the people we are making laws for everyone, including us.’
Pictured: Former State Representative Paul Mosley is pictured in a police body camera video in 2018. He was pulled over for going 42 miles per hour over the speed limit. The video inspired the governor at the time to push for reform
Republican State Representative Quang Nguyen revived the effort to end immunity for traffic violations with a bill he introduced last week. Debbie Logan, an Arizona resident agrees with the bill
Debbie Logan, an Arizona resident, agrees with the bill, saying the law should apply to everyone and that there shouldn’t be a special carveout for lawmakers.
‘I don’t believe it’s fair,’ she said. ‘I attend several meetings, and I always allow myself enough time to get there.’
Currently, lawmakers get a sticker they can display on their license that they can show to police officers in case they get pulled over.
‘I tore it off,’ Nguyen said. ‘I just want to live my life like you.’
If Nguyen’s bill is passed, the change will be put in front of voters as a ballot initiative in the 2026 election.
