NYT: Paul Pelosi had multiple traffic violations before Napa crash

newsJul 16, 202623155

The New York Times reports that Paul Pelosi, 86 and the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, accrued at least eight traffic violations in the San Francisco Bay Area over roughly 13 years before his Napa Valley crash this year. Court records cited by the paper include instances of driving the wrong way down a one-way street, speeding, and running red lights. Separate reports say investigators allege that in the Napa incident he struck an unoccupied parked car and drove off until his vehicle broke down. Coverage also notes that Pelosi was struck with a hammer during a 2022 home attack by David DePape, an event some commentators raised as a possible factor in his later driving. The reporting has highlighted debates about older drivers and whether additional testing or restrictions should apply at advanced ages.

Stephen Jacob Smith

@stephenjacobsmith.com

There’s a reason the government needs to re-administer driving tests after a certain age. You cannot trust friends and family to police this stuff.

The crash shined a light on the couple's life among the vineyards, where they own a country home, host fund-raisers and mingle with other wealthy residents. And when considered with the 2022 incident, it has alarmed some longtime friends and acquaintances, who say that Mr. Pelosi has been reluctant to give up the freedom of getting behind the wheel.

664h ago

Brendan Dawe6

Feels like something that’s going to get harder and harder to do too as this becomes more of the electorate

Joyce Park3

My daddy is 86, and in my experience there are VERY few people who should be driving at that age. :( He has not driven since he was about 80 I think.

Marta O'Brien2

Really, it's incredible that people can get a driver's licence in their teens & not be tested again 'til they're 80. Even then, in Ontario it's a vision test & written test for most. Never mind slower reactions etc. (I felt this way even before we were t-boned by 82-yr-old man in May).

Sam G1

And the Pelosis can afford a driver for Paul, never mind that they have a *taxpayer funded* driver already for Nancy!

Clara Jeffery

@clarajeffery.bsky.social

Two insane things: 1) Paul Pelosi had an accident as a teen that killed his 19 yo brother. And he still drove recklessly. 2) The Pelosis are verrrrrry rich. They could have a fleet of personalized drivers to make sure PP never drives again. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/u...

581h ago

Clara Jeffery47

You're a reckless driver. Your wife is one of the most high-profile people in the country. You suffered a brutal head injury from an assailant. And you can easily afford a 24/7 personal driver. And yet...

Crab Claw3

3) Paul Pelosi was the victim of a hammer attack that could possibly have impaired his judgment.

Chele Lea1

70 YEARS ago traffic safety wasn’t what it is,a boy’s accident that killed his brother. Do you think he and his family did not pay for that? Shame on you. He’s an old man he needs to stop driving, as many of our parents have had to. Using tragedy & aging to further YOUR own agenda is disgusting.

Quoting this

gamera obscura10

Rich people are so fucking weird.

Jennie Coughlin

@jenniecoughlin.bsky.social

Over more than a decade, Paul Pelosi has had at least eight driving violations in the San Francisco Bay Area, including driving the wrong way down a one-way street, speeding and, on more than one occasion, driving through a red light, court records show.

55h ago

Justin

@sitkaworldsfair.bsky.social

This is called media agenda setting. Absolute worst-case scenario of this line of reporting: Paul Pelosi benefitted from his wife’s position to continue driving after he shouldn’t have. That’s bad. But why does it merit this attention in the midst of the most corrupt president in U.S. history?

41h ago

Flying None

@flyingnone.bsky.social

This is sick, Paul Pelosi was hit with a hammer in an attempt to kill him. Magabilly creeps saying this shit are disgusting assholes.

4Yesterday

Crab Claw

@crabclaw898.bsky.social

3) Paul Pelosi was the victim of a hammer attack that could possibly have impaired his judgment.

31h ago

mjk4mj.bsky.social

@mjk4mj.bsky.social

2024: "DePape, a rightwing conspiracy theorist, broke into the Pelosis’ San Francisco home in 2022 and hit Paul Pelosi with a hammer" www.theguardian.com/us-news/arti...

32h ago

bendwalsh.bsky.social

@bendwalsh.bsky.social

elderly man puts himself and others in danger because of persistently reckless driving and friends find it hard to talk to him about it is, unfortunately, a common story. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/u...

25h ago

Cozy Eb

@ebonielon.bsky.social

Paul Pelosi is a public menace and shame on these elderly rich people not hiring or having a car service to take them wherever they need to go. The selfishness and lack of respect for the public at large is staggering. A man with his wealth would NEVER lose his "independence" by not driving. 13!

24h ago

Robin Abcarian

@rabcarian.bsky.social

Great story & public service by the NYT. Paul Pelosi should not EVER get behind the wheel again. It's a miracle he hasn't killed anyone yet. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/u...

25h ago

Bionic B!tch Ass

@millsypop.bsky.social

Paul Pelosi’s Errant Driving Record Preceded His Latest Napa Valley Crash www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/u... Say what you will about Paul- at least he wasn't a frequent visitor to Epstein Isalnd

24h ago

Duke Kaboom

@freelarrydoby.bsky.social

If Mike Francesa could hire a dedicated driver Paul Pelosi can

22h ago

Matt Pinwall (发件人) 🇬🇱🌮

@mobypinball.bsky.social

gift post I mean, yes, I totally think Pelosi should be permanently taken off the roads, should suffer consequences proportionate to what others have suffered for similar offenses, and deserves zero special treatment. But: the front page?

15h ago