New Hampshire State Rep. Ellen Read tried to argue that her excessive speeding was constitutionally protected.
The Democratic lawmaker claimed that she was exempt from being “arrested, or held to bail” after going 100mph in one case, and 92mph in another. Read said that an old provision in the New Hampshire constitution protected her while she was “traveling to or returning from the General Court,” according to Fox News, and therefore the traffic stops made on her were unconstitutional and should be dismissed.
“No member of the House of Representatives, or Senate shall be arrested, or held to bail, on mesne process, during his going to, returning from, or attendance upon, the Court,” the state constitution says.
“Read was first stopped in December 2024, after authorities alleged she drove more than 100 mph on Interstate 93 in Windham. A second case followed in June 2025, when authorities accused her of driving 92 mph in a 65 mph zone in Londonderry,” Fox explained.
The dangerous behavior was, according to the lawmaker, incident to her duties and therefore protected.
“At the time of the stop, Ms. Read was a sitting member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. She was traveling in a vehicle bearing a New Hampshire State Representative license plate. Upon being stopped, Ms. Read informed the deputy that she was returning from the General Court,” reads her petition.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Read clarified that she doesn’t think lawmakers are shielded from prosecution, just from being stopped while carrying out their jobs.
“The plain reading of the Constitution says that legislators cannot be stopped on their way to or from their duties. It says nothing of being ticketed or arrested at the end of the commute, and nothing about prosecution,” she said.
She maintained this as her defense in a motion.
“Under the plain language of the New Hampshire Constitution, defendant was unlawfully detained/seized/arrested in violation of her Legislative privilege. All evidence illegally obtained should be suppressed, and the charge dismissed.”
A judge did not see things her way and, in August 2025, Read was found guilty of negligent driving and issued a fine of $1,240. Half of this fine was deferred, and she was also allowed to keep her license “as long as she maintained good behavior for two years, completed a safe-driving course and avoided additional moving violations,” Fox reported.
The lawmaker asked the state Supreme Court to take up the issue prior to the proceedings of the second speeding case, but her plea was rejected without prejudice.
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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