Paul Pelosi Banned From Driving for Six Months After Hit-and-Run Plea
Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been barred from driving for six months after pleading no contest in a hit-and-run case in California.
The 86-year-old pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hit-and-run and an unlawful turn, Napa County prosecutors announced Tuesday. The unlawful turn was treated as a traffic infraction, while leaving the scene led to the misdemeanor charge.
Napa County Superior Court Judge Scott Young imposed the sentence under a plea deal announced by District Attorney Allison Haley. Prosecutors said six months is the maximum driving ban allowed under the sections of the California Vehicle Code they cited.
Probation and a Work Program
Young also placed Pelosi on one year of summary probation, which does not require regular check-ins with a probation officer. The probation is part of the plea agreement prosecutors reached with Pelosi's defense.
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He was ordered to complete a 10-day work program and report to the Napa County Department of Corrections by Nov. 20 for booking only. The court also ordered him to pay fines and fees.
Pelosi has already paid the owner of the damaged car $11,191.14 in restitution, according to the district attorney's office.
The Yountville Crash
The crash happened on July 3 in Yountville, a Napa Valley town known for its wineries and the Michelin-starred French Laundry restaurant, about 15 minutes from the Pelosis' Napa Valley estate.
Pelosi was driving a convertible when he struck an unoccupied, parked Tesla. The Associated Press reported that he briefly stopped before allegedly driving away.
He continued along a residential street until his convertible broke down and law enforcement officers arrived. Neighbors described the Tesla with its rear bumper smashed and one front wheel pushed onto the curb.
No one was inside the Tesla, and authorities reported no injuries. Officials said alcohol was not involved in the crash.
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A family spokesperson said in July that Pelosi personally apologized to the owner and promised to cover the damage. His attorney could not immediately be reached after the sentence was announced.
The district attorney's office said it rarely issues releases about crashes involving only property damage, but it cited public and media interest in Pelosi's case as the reason it released the details.
Not His First Crash
The case follows a 2022 crash in Napa County, when Pelosi's Porsche collided with an oncoming Jeep on May 28 of that year. That collision led to two misdemeanor charges, and Pelosi initially pleaded not guilty through his lawyer.
In that case, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. A second charge, alleging he drove with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher causing injury, was dismissed.
He was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of summary probation. The AP reported he served two days, received credit for two more for good conduct, and completed the final day through a work program at the courthouse.
That sentence also included a $1,723 fine and $4,927.53 in restitution for the other driver's medical bills and lost wages. He was required to complete a three-month DUI program and use an ignition interlock device for a year, which requires a breath sample before the car will start.