New Hampshire State Representative Ellen Read has been accused of driving over 100 mph in one instance and 92 mph in another. She contends that the New Hampshire Constitution protects lawmakers from being stopped while traveling to or from legislative sessions. Read argues that the police unlawfully detained her, claiming that the charges should be dismissed due to an unconstitutional stop.
Read was first stopped in December 2024 for allegedly driving over 100 mph on Interstate 93. A second stop occurred in June 2025, where she was accused of driving 92 mph in a 65 mph zone. During both stops, Read stated she was returning from a legislative session and displayed a New Hampshire State Representative license plate.
In her defense, Read cites a provision from the New Hampshire Constitution that states lawmakers cannot be arrested while attending or traveling to or from legislative duties. She clarifies that she is not claiming immunity from prosecution but argues that the stops themselves were unconstitutional.
A judge previously rejected her argument in her first speeding case, where she was found guilty of negligent driving and fined $1,240. Read later sought to have the New Hampshire Supreme Court address the constitutional question, but her petition was declined.
In a statement, Read defended her actions and criticized the lack of radar evidence during the traffic stops, suggesting that the officer's speed estimation was inaccurate. She emphasized that her legal challenge focuses on the constitutionality of the stops rather than the speeding charges themselves.