Arizona state lawmaker apologizes for saying he has "immunity" from speeding violation [View all]

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Arizona state lawmaker apologizes for saying he has ‘immunity’ from speeding violation

BY JACQUELINE THOMSEN - 07/12/18 09:23 PM EDT

An Arizona state lawmaker has apologized for telling a sheriff’s deputy to not penalize him for speeding because he has “legislative immunity,” calling his comments inappropriate.

State Rep. Paul Mosley (R) wrote in a Facebook post Thursday that his “desire to get home to see my family does not justify how fast I was speeding nor my reference to legislative immunity when being pulled over.” ... “Legislative immunity is a serious responsibility and should not be taken lightly or abused,” he added.

Mosley also said that his “jokes” about often driving over 100 miles an hour while commuting to and from the state capitol were “entirely inappropriate and showed extremely bad judgement on my part, for which I am truly sorry.”

Mosley was pulled over in March for driving 97 miles per hour in a 55 mile-per-hour zone, according to a police report published Wednesday. .... Video from the officer’s body cam footage also showed Mosley telling the officer that he sometimes drives faster, at “120, 130.” ... “Yeah, this goes 140. That’s what I like about it,” the lawmaker can be heard saying while laughing, referring to the car.