New Hampshire state representative Ellen Read has drawn criticism after invoking legislative immunity to contest speeding citations, including one for allegedly driving 107 miles per hour. The Democrat from Newmarket, serving her fourth term in the House, has challenged the traffic stops by asserting that she is protected from prosecution while commuting to and from the state legislature, a claim that has met skepticism from colleagues and legal experts.
Read’s spokesperson, Gracie Gato, released a statement last Monday contending that Read’s 2009 Toyota Yaris, with more than 440,000 miles, “cannot even maintain traffic speed” and therefore could not have reached the speeds cited by law enforcement. The statement also described two speeding-related citations as “a closed matter” and criticized media coverage of the incident as biased. However, court records indicate that the cases remain active, with hearings and trials pending.
The controversy surfaced after Read’s appeal of the traffic citations became public through filings at the New Hampshire Supreme Court. One citation relates to a June 2025 stop on Interstate 93 where Read was accused of driving 92 mph in a 65 mph zone. During that encounter, according to Major Christopher Bashaw of the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, Read reportedly challenged the officer's authority, citing constitutional immunity due to her legislative status. A second stop, which occurred in December 2024, involved the higher alleged speed of 107 mph. Read disputes this figure, claiming she was traveling about 85 mph.
In August 2025, a bench trial found Read guilty of negligent driving—classified as a non-criminal violation—resulting in a $1,240 fine and a conditional threat of license suspension for further violations within two years. Despite this judgment, Read’s legal representative, Dana Albrecht, who is not a licensed attorney, filed a petition with the state Supreme Court seeking review of the legislative privilege claim. The Court declined to hear the case in June, and a subsequent motion for reconsideration was rejected in early July.
Read’s invocation of legislative immunity stems from a New Hampshire constitutional provision that prevents lawmakers from being arrested or held to bail while traveling to or from the Legislature. However, fellow legislators have expressed doubt that this protection extends to routine traffic enforcement actions not interfering with legislative duties. Joe Sweeney, a Republican deputy majority leader, said the privilege is meant to ensure lawmakers can perform their functions without undue hindrance, not to excuse traffic violations. Democratic minority leader Alexis Simpson emphasized that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law and expressed confidence in the court’s handling of the case.
The dispute has unfolded amid ongoing tensions involving Read’s interactions with members of the New Hampshire Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence and other legislative conduct issues. Earlier in 2024, Read was barred from certain areas of the state House on non-session days after an incident involving disruptive behavior during legislative hearings.
Kathy Sullivan, former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, dismissed suggestions that media coverage was retaliatory due to Read’s advocacy for investigations into alleged abuse networks. Sullivan urged Read to acknowledge responsibility for the speeding violations rather than contesting the facts.
The matter continues to develop, with court proceedings scheduled for August to review conditions related to Read’s sentence, and another trial date pending for the second speeding charge. House Clerk Paul Smith and a state House employee testified that Read was calm during the first traffic stop, while details about the second remain less clear. Meanwhile, legislative mileage records show Read was reimbursed for commuting on the day of the second incident, despite being marked absent from the House session.