Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing a new misdemeanor hit-and-run charge in California, marking the latest in a series of driving violations that have resulted in nearly $9,000 in fines, restitution, and other penalties over the years. Mr. Pelosi, 86, entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney, Amanda Bevins, on Friday to the charge stemming from a July 4 weekend collision in Yountville, California. He did not personally attend the arraignment in Napa County.
"Mr Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle." — Nancy Pelosi's Office
The most recent incident, according to authorities, involved Mr. Pelosi allegedly striking a parked Tesla while driving a convertible and subsequently leaving the scene. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office reported that Mr. Pelosi’s vehicle stopped less than half a mile away on Yountville Cross Road. He was not immediately arrested following the incident but was later charged with one count of misdemeanor hit-and-run. In addition, his driver’s license has been referred to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for reevaluation, a standard procedure for elderly drivers. An expedited settlement conference has been scheduled for August 24 to determine the future course of the case, which Mr. Pelosi is not required to attend.
This incident follows a separate Napa County collision in 2022, where Mr. Pelosi pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI). That crash occurred after he had been drinking and drove his 2021 Porsche into another vehicle while returning home. Following his arrest and subsequent guilty plea, a Napa County judge sentenced him to three years of probation, a $1,723 court fine, $4,927.53 in victim restitution, and an additional $150 victim restitution fine.
Mr. Pelosi's history of traffic violations, however, extends well beyond these recent events. In June 2011, he was cited in San Mateo County for allegedly driving 90 mph in a 60-mph zone, resulting in a $417 fine and an order to attend traffic school. Later that same year, he received two more tickets in Napa County: one for crossing double yellow lines near his St. Helena vineyard property and another for running a red light, which incurred a $490 fine.
Further violations continued in subsequent years. In April 2013, Mr. Pelosi was cited for another red-light violation on Camino Real in Millbrae, California, leading to a $582 fine. Marin County also saw multiple infractions, including a $161 fine in September 2014 for using a cellphone while driving and a $262 fine three months later for failing to stop at a stop sign. An allegation of failing to provide proof of automobile insurance during this period was later dropped.
In December 2017, Mr. Pelosi encountered another legal issue on the road after being cited for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Marin County. This case proceeded to a one-day trial in March 2018, where he was convicted and ordered to pay a $237 fine. The accumulation of these various fines, restitution, and financial penalties associated with Mr. Pelosi's driving record totals nearly $9,000.
His driving history also includes a much older and more severe incident from his teenage years. In 1957, when Mr. Pelosi was 16, he was involved in a sports car crash south of San Francisco that resulted in the death of his 19-year-old brother, David. Mr. Pelosi was charged with misdemeanor manslaughter following the crash, though the charge was later dropped. A coroner’s jury subsequently determined that David died from strangulation caused by a neck brace he was wearing, rather than from injuries directly sustained in the collision itself.
The latest Yountville case has once again brought Mr. Pelosi's driving under public scrutiny. Friends of the Pelosi family reportedly expressed concerns to the New York Times about his age and physical condition potentially affecting his driving ability, though they reportedly did not raise these concerns directly with Paul or Nancy Pelosi due for fear of damaging their relationships. Following the July incident, Nancy Pelosi’s office released a statement confirming her husband’s apology to the owner of the Tesla and his commitment to cover the damages. "Mr Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle," the statement read. Photographs obtained by the Daily Mail indicate the Tesla has since been repaired.
