Immunity prevents arrest of Arizona lawmaker after freeway fight

[madinmaryland]

(CNN) -- An Arizona state senator involved in an apparent freeway-shoulder scuffle with his girlfriend was not detained because he has immunity from arrest while the legislature is in session, police said.

Officers in Phoenix who were called to investigate a reported altercation found that both Sen. Scott Bundgaard and his girlfriend, Aubry Ballard, had marks suggesting a physical dispute, police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.

Bundgaard, a Republican and the state senate's majority leader, was allowed to go -- although prosecutors will review the case and could later file charges, Thompson said. Ballard was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and taken to jail.

In a joint statement Sunday, Bundgaard and Ballard said they were "tired and embarrassed" because of the incident.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/02/27/arizona.senator.incident/index.html?hpt=T2

Hmmm. More republican values on display.

[leveymg]

1. They don't have absolute immunity while the legislature is in session.

If this had happened in the course of legislative business in the State House, maybe, but not on some Freeway.

[Ptah]

2. It's been in the Arizona Constitution since 1910

[Monique1]

3. It is in the constitution

In fact Jan Brewer was stopped years ago for DUI - she got away with it because of the law.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. They are far from the only state. There is protection for some Feds too

[yellowcanine]

4. "Their statement Sunday said the couple were breaking up and appealed for privacy."

Heh, sorry guys, but when you get involved in a physical altercation on the shoulder of a public highway you have no expectation of privacy.