Lead foot, loud mouth disqualify Rep. Mosley
Turns out Rep. Paul Mosley not only has a lead foot, he has a loud mouth. And a golden shield of entitlement.
One that protects him from those pesky rules of the road and rules of workplace engagement.
You will remember Mosley, the Lake Havasu City Republican who was caught driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone. The one who, when pulled over in March by a La Paz County sheriff ’s deputy, waved his legislative credentials out the window and claimed that he is a legislator and thus immune from mere traffic laws.
It seems he was right. Mosley has been stopped seven times since taking office in 2017 — including twice in one day.
Twice in one day.
Number of citations issued: ZERO. Meanwhile, we have learned that Mosley feels the need to use his elective office as an opportunity to pronounce judgments on women who work, to ask unmarried males whether they are gay, to quote scriptures to anyone who will listen and to hand out the Book of Mormon at the Capitol.
Longtime lobbyist Meghaen Dell’Artino busted the guy on her Facebook page last week after reading about his claim of legislative immunity.
“When I first went in to lobby this man he told me I shouldn’t be in his office because he was told I had 6 month twins at home and didn’t know how I was feeding them when at work,” she wrote. “He proceeded to tell me that I must be working because my husband doesn’t make enough and continued down the path of I must not be pro family because I’m a working mom. I was outraged! Later he went up to a male employee of mine and asked how he could work for a woman.”
As a woman who managed to feed both of her sons while working and even raise them to adulthood, I think the real question is: How can Mosley work for the people of Legislative District 5, half of whom are presumably of the female persuasion?
Dell’Artino told The Republic that Mosley eventually called to apologize after a friend of hers posted to social media about the encounter.
“Even in his apology to me, he just kept saying, you know, ‘I’m sorry you were offended, I just really care about family,’” Dell’Artino said.
Mosley is ducking reporters to explain his immunity from traffic laws and social graces.
One lobbyist told me she believes he just can’t help himself.
“Mosley says what he is thinking and has no idea how offensive he is,” she said, asking not to be named because she must work with legislators. “It is almost childlike. I have always sensed his mental/social defects and have never taken any of his mistakes
personally.”
Whatever his issue, he’s a walking, talking and especially driving menace. One who has gotten away with it. So far, at least.
La Paz County punted Mosley’s March stop to prosecutors in Cochise County, evidently feeling unable to bring criminal charges against a state official going 42 miles above the speed limit. (Yeah, it’s a close call.)
Meanwhile, state troopers have pulled Mosley over one, two, three, four, five, SIX times since he took office. Six times, six warnings.
Feb. 16, 2017: 80 mph in a 55-mph zone on State Route 95.
April 13, 2017: running a stop sign on SR 72 and having a minor in the front seat without proper restraint.
April 22, 2017: 72 mph in a 55 mph zone on SR 72.
March 18: 71 mph in a 55 mph zone on SR 72.
April 5: 81 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 10.
April 5, less than two hours later: 85 mph in a 55 mph zone on SR 95.
The guy accumulated a fistful of useless warnings but not so much as a single citation — not even when his speeding rose to the level of a crime.
The explanation from the DPS, whose budget, by the way, is set by the Legislature?
“Under Arizona Statutes, Article 4, Part 2, Section 6, ‘Troopers shall recognize Arizona State Legislators immunity from arrest in all cases except for treason, felonies and breach of the peace and are not subject to any civil process for 15 days prior to and during each legislative session,’” DPS spokesman Kameron Lee told me, via email.
For a year and a half, this menace has been given a pass as he thunders across Arizona’s highways.
I’m guessing voters will not give Rep. Leadfoot a license to continue.
For a year and a half, this menace has been given a pass as he thunders across Arizona’s highways. I’m guessing voters will not give Rep. Leadfoot a license to continue.