A Pima County lawmaker facing a summons for criminal speeding claims she’s the victim of “political persecution.”
In March, a Tucson police officer pulled over Republican Sen. Justine Wadsack (R-Marana) for driving 71 mph in a 35 mph zone.
As first reported by the Tucson Sentinel, Wadsack — who identified herself to the officer as a senator — could not be ticketed at the time. State lawmakers have legislative immunity while in session at the Capitol in Phoenix.
Since the session ended in June, a lieutenant with the Tucson Police Department attempted to issue her a citation, but Wadsack refused to sign it.
“She [Wadsack] immediately became defensive and argued that she was in fact not speeding. I explained that there was probable cause to issue her a citation for criminal speeding and that she could present her arguments to the judge; however, she refused to meet to sign the citation and said she would not accept it,” Lt. Lauren Pettey wrote in a report.
Petty wrote that Wadsack requested to speak with the chief of police and said she was under political persecution.
“She also said that I was being aggressive and got upset when I called her Mrs. Wadsack and not Senator Wadsack. She the [sic] abruptly ended the conversation and hung up the phone,” Petty wrote.
Wadsack now faces a misdemeanor summons in Tucson city court.
On Saturday, Wadsack took to Facebook, claiming she was not speeding and there is no proof because the officer who pulled her over “failed” to show her his radar gun.
“I am not ‘above the law,’ I have acted within the law and the Constitution. The media and my opponent are desperate for content. — I was NOT given a ticket! — I have NEVER even received a ticket in the mail. — I have NEVER been ‘summoned,’” Wadsack wrote.
She also claimed she’s investigating the Tucson Police Department, referencing the conversation she had with the department’s lieutenant.
“This is highly irregular, and when I asked if they’ve ever done this to other legislators, her response was ‘no… just you,’” Wadsack wrote.
The Tucson Police Department declined to comment on Wadsack’s statement.
The Fraternal Order of Police has since retracted its endorsement of Wadsack, who’s being challenged by former Sen. Vince Leach in the GOP primary for her senate seat.
“Wadsack was treated in strict accordance with the law — and with consummate respect — by all the TPD team members she encountered,” the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement.
President of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police Paul Sheldon added Wadsack’s conduct is “unbecoming an elected representative.”
“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,” Sheldon stated.
Wadsack did not respond to a request for comment.
The Arizona Police Association, an umbrella organization for several state law enforcement agencies, has also endorsed Leach.
Wadsack’s traffic stop has also reignited questions about where she lives.
The senator says she lives in Marana, not Tucson. But when pulled over in March, Wadsack told the officer she was speeding because her car’s battery was low and she only had to travel a few more miles to get home.
But Wadsack was pulled over more than 19 miles from an apartment in Marana, where she now claims to live. The traffic stop also occurred more than 17 miles from a south Tucson home Wadsack previously claimed as her residence in 2022, when she first ran for office.
Friends of Leach, the Republican challenging Wadsack in the GOP primary again this year, filed a lawsuit in 2022 claiming she doesn’t live in the district she was running to represent — and instead lived in a home she owns with her husband in Tucson.
A judge rejected the challenge, and Wadsack went on to win the Senate seat in November.
“I live in Marana. — Enough with this,” Wadsack said on Facebook.
She said she’s been preparing her Tucson home for sale and spending time there, but living in Marana with her husband.
