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« | Home | »

MDE EXCLUSIVE: WALZ JAILED FOR DUI AFTER DRIVING 96 IN 55 MPH ZONE

By Michael B. Brodkorb | September 6, 2006

On September 23, 1995, Tim Walz was arrested in Nebraska for driving 96 in a 55 mph zone and for DUI.  Walz was jailed and later plead guilty.

According to Walz’s bio he moved from Nebraska to Minnesota in 1996, which would have been shortly after Walz’s legal troubles were finalized in court:

“Married in 1994, Tim and Gwen Walz moved to Mankato, Minnesota two years later. The couple accepted positions teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School where Tim continues to teach today.” Source: Tim Walz for Congress website

I want to thank the dedicated reader of Minnesota Democrats Exposed who sent me this information.  Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

Tags:

Topics: Uncategorized | 43 Comments »

43 Responses to “MDE EXCLUSIVE: WALZ JAILED FOR DUI AFTER DRIVING 96 IN 55 MPH ZONE”

  1. Bella Ruse Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 9:41 AM

    Michael, every time I think you have scraped the bottom of the sludge pot, you sink what I even deeper into the slime. How will you justify character assassination to your child(ren)? Do you keep a scrapbook? Do you notch trashed lives on your headboard? You are the local poster boy for why Republicans should bail, now. Ick.

  2. The Ghost of Matt Entenza's career Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 9:46 AM

    WOW!!! September 23rd is during the school year. Was this guy teaching students during this time period?? This guy has a reckless disregard for people around him.

  3. Mark Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 9:56 AM

    11 years ago…. and this matters, because?????

  4. Art Vandelay Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:02 AM

    I just looked, and September 23rd, 2005 was a Saturday night. So, did Walz bail himself out of jail before class on Monday morning??

  5. Brock Sampson Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:04 AM

    I wonder if this was ever a part of Walz’s civics course.

  6. Concerned Voter Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:06 AM

    I am a little bit curious about the documents that you have attached. I don’t see on the ticket or in the court documents anywhere where it lists Walz’s BAC.

    It shows that there was the possibility of enhanced penalties, which I believe usually means that it was nearing or upwards of .02. But in the court counts all it tells us is that his BAC was over the legal limit of .01.

    This is strange given that they actually list the speed limit, but refrain from listing whatever BAC he may have had that could have been cause for “enhanced penalties.” Perhaps it was the excessive speed and not the BAC which could have resulted in the enhanced penalties.

    Interesting also that he didn’t have a valid registration.

    This will certainly give the people of the 1st something to talk about. But I don’t think it will have a monumental effect on the outcome of the race.

  7. John Mueller Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:08 AM

    I am sure Roving Reporter will rush into blame this mishap on the Bush Administration!!!

  8. Dave of the VRWC Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:30 AM

    “This guy has a reckless disregard for people around him.”
    “11 years ago…. and this matters, because?????”

    I’d be willing to give him a pass on the DWI (and one only). Unfortunately that is a common violation amongst people on both sides. But couple that with going 96 mph….

    I have cousin who is permanetly partially disabled because of being hit by a speeder (and I don’t mean someone going 8 mph over). Going 96 mph in a 55 zone does show a selfish disregard for others out that day.

  9. Jon-David Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:38 AM

    Michael,

    Weak sauce man.

    http://www.mnpublius.com/2006/09/mde_continues_contextfree_atta.php

    You’re so easily debunked nowadays, you have to wonder how effective you’ll be going forward in your sweet spot as Democratic-attack-clearinghouse?

    11 years ago Tim Walz WAS NOT charged and DID NOT plead guilty to DUI – see the amended complaint [which you helpfully posted] – he pled guilty to reckless driving, paid his fine, and hasn’t done it since.

    Hugs!

    Jon-David

  10. NL Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:45 AM

    Mark: 11 years ago…. and this matters, because?????

    A relative link for the libs with selective memory on the dangers of speeding:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Janklow

  11. MplsSteve Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:55 AM

    The hypocrisy of the DFL scum who visit this site is amazing.

    Shortly before the 2000 election, some fellow traveller/useful idiot dropped the news that Goerge Bush had been convicted of a DWI back in the 70′s.

    There were the usual inane comments abut whether George Bush was capable of assuming the office because of a past conviction or whether he had credibvility issues because of it.

    Now the shoe is on the other foot and the fellow traveller/useful idiot types aren’t liking it so much.

    You know what? Tough sh*t!

    Live by thr sword – die by the sword.

  12. Art Vandelay Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 11:04 AM

    Even if he was not drunk, that is bseides the point. 96 in a 55 sober shows a complete disregard for the LAW and other people on the road. This reminds me of the Keith Ellison situations, someone wanting to make our laws does not think they have to follow them. Does Mr. Walz teach his students that they only have to follow certain laws??

  13. Demrock6 Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 11:21 AM

    So mplsSteve, are you saying this is a big deal or not?

    Cheney also has 2 DWI’s
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney

    06 GOP senate hopeful in Washington Mike McGavrick has one. http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/washington-gop-candidate-reveals-1993/n20060825140909990006?cid=1946

    The 04 GOP senate nomine in Colorado Pete Coors has one. http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=2356488

    I do not buy into the “I can do badly, because the other side does too” garbage. DWI is a very common charge. I heard 1 in 9 Minnesota drivers have made that mistake.

    It bears no merit on if someone should be in elected office. Also if it got dropped down to careless that means it was a trace amount of alcohol or very close to the limit.

  14. DJZ Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 11:22 AM

    Tim Walz was guilty of speeding in Nebraska 11 years ago. End of story.

    It was the same year Gil Gutknecht promised to serve 6 terms (until 2006) in the House and then retire. While I don’t think Walz ever lied about this, we do know Gutknecht entire campaign this year is a broken promise based on lies. He’s running again because the Republicans booted him from conderation of the Senate (a decision many regret now).

    I wouldn’t go after Tim’s teaching ability, he’s was good enough to be teacher of the year. I forget that you Republican scumbags never met a teacher or veteran (except Bush) that you liked.

  15. jimj Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 11:45 AM

    MplsSteve,Great job in exposing the DFL/Democrat
    hypocrisy on this ! As we all know if your a Republican, anything in YOUR LIFE whether it was
    11 years ago or 50 years ago is always FAIR GAME
    with DJZ, Brian Hanna and Roving STRIB Reporter !
    This includes JUVENILE records ! Look what our
    “friends” did to former GOP State Rep Linda Boudreau a few years ago ! THIS SHOULD STRENGHTHEN OUR RESOLVE TO DEFEAT THE DFL BY ALL
    HONORABLE MEANS ! They have this TERRIBLE moral
    compass which leads to their selective enforcement of rules and laws depending on whether or not it will help or hurt them !!

  16. Dave of the VRWC Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 12:07 PM

    “I forget that you Republican scumbags never met a teacher or veteran (except Bush) that you liked.”

    I have 7 close relatives who are current public school teachers, 2 more who are retired, and many more who are now deceased. So this “scumbag” has no problem with teachers. I’d like to address the veteran comment buy I have no idea what the f*ck you are talking about so I can’t even debate you.

  17. Jeff Fecke Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 12:40 PM

    Look, Tim Walz was guilty of speeding. I’ve been guilty of speeding. I bet over have the posters here have been guilty of speeding.

    If speeding convictions are going to disqualify people from public office, then shut ‘er down.

  18. the Cerebral Assassin Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 2:08 PM

    Jeff,

    96 in a 55 is not like going 65 in 55. I’m going to guess the average person- even in the DFL- hasn’t been busted going 41 mph over the speed limit, much less doing it while impaired. Doing this may be a deep character flaw that may portend their future decision making capabilities as a lawmaker.

    As far as I can tell, there are a lot of scumbags who have offenses at this level or greater that represent us in many levels of elected government in all parties. It’s too bad that a job as important as governing doesn’t appeal to more people of a higher character.

    tCA

  19. Mark Gisleson Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 2:37 PM

    Have any of you John Wayne Republican types ever lived in a rural area? A place so dark you can see oncoming headlights coming from two miles away? Have you ever lived in a place so desolate you write an entry in your diary when you do actually meet traffic coming from the opposite way?

    Sheesh, whadda bunch of pantywaist suburbanites! Tim Walz is alive, all the proof you need that he knows how to drive.

    Higher character? Like our go-to-war-on-a-hunch president ? Or impaired like our shoot-ol’-Harry-in-the-face weekend shooter-drinker-veep?

    If you locked away everyone who has driven over ninety, we’d have no police, no army, no marines, no navy, no air force, no EMTs or just about anyone else who actually tried living when they were young instead of parking their butts in front of the tube for more Fox propaganda.

    Republicans used to instinctively know these things. I don’t know who you people are, but I wish we had the party of Barry Goldwater back instead of this bunch of prissy MADD moms. The only embarrassment for Dems here is the fact that Walz wasn’t drunk (and it was Saturday night — what was the problem?).

    Seriously, do your kids play soccer when they’re not at French horn practice? I’m getting that impression….

  20. Just the Facts, Mam Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 2:57 PM

    Mark,

    lets see, going 40+ MPH over the limit and drunk makes hims a good American?

    I don’t think so.

    For those of us who don’t drink and drive nor decide to exceed the speed limit by 40+MPH, I guess your definition of a good upstanding citizen deserving to be sent to congress is a bit different.

    Now, if Tim would just apologize for it and own up to it and say, “Hey, I did something stupid that likely would have gotten others killed. I am sorry for having done it and I would like to put all of this behind me.”, I would respect him more.

    But, his campaign is silent on the issue.

    And for the record, my children don’t play soccer. And just what do you have against French Horns?

  21. David Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 3:30 PM

    Fact’s are facts even back when this occurred first time Drunk Drivers got their DUI dismissed and pled to Gross Misdemeanor Reckless or Careless. The fact of the matter is he should have been charged with Reckless and with the excessive speed should not have allowed a plea bargain. Perhaps we need to look at excessive speed as an aggravating factor and punish those harsher than a simple slap on the wrist go on your way the way the current system treats them.

    This is not just a speeding incident.

    However, this is something that should not preclude a person from running for office or make them unfit for office either. Statistically about one in Six in Minnesota has been arrested for DUI.

  22. Mark Gisleson Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 3:31 PM

    Don’t have nuthin’ ‘gainst no French horns. I just find it funny to read a bunch of city folks getting their knickers in a bunch over something just about everyone in the country does now and then.

    Going 40 over in the city IS insane. Going 40 over in the country every once in a great while is called getting home on time.

    It’s a rural route thing so I guess you just wouldn’t understand. And it does get out of hand now and then — just look at Bill Janklow. (I’m talking about “real” rural routes, btw, not housing developments in the middle of corn fields. In places like Nebraska you can hear cars coming for three miles, and see their headlights for two miles.)

    Oh, and “his campaign is silent on the issue”? This post is time-stamped at 11:41 am today. Were you expecting Tim to cancel his scheduled appearances so he could do a tearful press conference and drop out of the race?

    When I read the comments in this thread and then I think about all the tough talking macho neocons who blustered about kicking Saddam’s ass, I really do have to wonder if the Republican party is just one big Potemkin village with the tough talkers and gunslingers out front and the worry warts all in back knitting doilies and sipping tea.

    I hope I never see the day when Guard members are shamed into apologizing for one-time speeding tickets.

  23. Paul Bartlett Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 4:25 PM

    Is his situation similar to when Cocaine sniffing drunk booze hound George W. Bush use to fall off his bar stool at Yale or while avoiding active service? With you Mike, there’s always one rule for the Dems and a different rule for you hypocrites weo infest your nazi party.

  24. jb doubtless Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 4:34 PM

    Wanton drunken behavior is the one thing we at Fraterslibertas just cannot abide by!

  25. Mark Gisleson Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 5:13 PM

    It’s about time a real Republican left a comment!

  26. Chris Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 5:29 PM

    Hey Paul, F–K You! People like you are pathetic. You’d vote for the Devil if he had a D next to his name. Oh wait…

  27. Chris Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 5:32 PM

    DJZ said:

    We do know Gutknecht entire campaign this year is a broken promise based on lie.

    Does that make Paul Wellstone, the patron saint of the kook-left fringe, a liar too? I think it does.

  28. Paul Bartlett Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 6:27 PM

    Real classy Chris. Stick your swastika up your ass!

  29. Matt Lyle Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 7:21 PM

    So stupid. Republicans don’t read, man.

    Read the PDF: The DUI charges were dropped. The man paid $200 for driving too fast 11 years ago. End of story.

  30. Willie Stark Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 7:45 PM

    It is true that Paul Wellstone is also going back on a term limit pledge, however it needs to be pointed out that Gutknecht went out of his way to try and lie about his term limit promise and prevent the public from learning about it. Personally any candidate who is relying on a less informed public, and actually going out of his way to create one, does not deserve to hold office.

  31. EvilDemocratz Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 8:22 PM

    An equally classy post.

  32. Brian Hanna Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 8:33 PM

    OK, class, everyone put down the kool-aid and back away slowly! ROTFLMFAO! :lol:

    Mark – good to hear a sane voice from the Republican side. I knew you all were there somewhere.

  33. Frank Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 8:56 PM

    Paul Bartlett is a damaged man who only knows how to react with bitterness, name-calling and hate.

    Chris is exactly right. After Wellstone pulled the same thing in 2002, there is no honest Democrat who can attack Gutknecht for breaking his pledge. However, those of us without double standards wish they both would have kept their pledges…

  34. Chris Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 9:12 PM

    Hey Paul, I don’t know about swastikas and burning crosses, you’ll have to ask Robert Byrd and the Jew haters at MoveOn.org.

  35. wtm Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 9:28 PM

    Once again, Democrats prove what hypocrites they are.

    Lawlesness? It’s bad if it’s George Bush, but OK if it’s Keith Ellison.

    DUI? It’s bad if it’s George Bush, but OK if it’s Tim Walz.

    Sexual Harassment? It’s bad if it’s Bob Packwood, but OK if it’s Bill Clinton.

    Racism? It’s bad if it’s Trent Lott, but OK if it’s Bob Byrd or Keith Ellison.

  36. schoolsout Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 9:45 PM

    Having a speeding ticket or even a DWI will only help Walz in this district. Obviously, most of you freaks are from the Metro. Let me tell you, in Rural MN, this is not a career ender. Case and point:

    Rob Leighten, first term Rep. from Austin, gets knocked out cold in a bar fight in Austin (obviously drunk and crabby). The result, he wins by a record margin in his re-election bid.

    Tom Rukavina, Virginia Rep, picked up by cops and convicted of drunk driving. Next election, he wins by a huge margin.

    Get real boys and girls, this nes may mean an extra 5 points from the hook and bullet crowd!

  37. Brian Hanna Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 10:12 PM

    Chris: // Jew haters //

    Israel can do no wrong, eh, Chris?

    Just like Bush’s America.

    I heard Bush is actually fighting ecological whistleblower protection in court with the legal basis of “the king can do no wrong”. :grin:

  38. KenT Says:
    September 7th, 2006 at 4:47 AM

    So what if I broke the law, I’m a Democrat so what are you going to do about it? It’s not like DFL voters care as long as I tell them just what they want to hear, they’ll vote for me anyway.

  39. Mark Gisleson Says:
    September 7th, 2006 at 10:28 AM

    So what if I broke the law, paid my fine and did my time. I’m a Democrat and when we eff up, we take our lumps. It’s not like the Republican voters care as long as they have MDE telling them what they want to hear — they’ll vote against me anyway.

    — MarK (still waiting for Bush to acknowledge that mistakes were made)

  40. Lillian Says:
    September 8th, 2006 at 6:59 AM

    As quoted from Rochester Press Bulletin

    Walz’s campaign manager Kerry Greeley didn’t dispute that Walz was speeding when he was pulled over that night, but she said Walz was not drunk. She attributed the misunderstanding to Walz’s deafness, a condition resulting from his years of serving as an artillerist in the Army National Guard.

    “He couldn’t understand what the officer was saying to him,” Greeley said.

    She said deaf people also can have balance issues. The judge eventually threw out the DUI charges against Walz and chastised the officer for not realizing that Walz was deaf, Greeley said.

  41. Minnesota Democrats Exposed © » PAUL BARTLETT’S LONG HISTORY OF POSTING VILE COMMENTS ON MDE Says:
    September 20th, 2006 at 2:35 PM

    [...] Is his situation similar to when Cocaine sniffing drunk booze hound George W. Bush use to fall off his bar stool at Yale or while avoiding active service? With you Mike, there’s always one rule for the Dems and a different rule for you hypocrites weo infest your nazi party. Comment by Paul Bartlett — September 6, 2006 @ 4:25 pm [...]

  42. MDE FROM THE ARCHIVES: WALZ JAILED FOR DUI AFTER DRIVING 96 IN 55 MPH ZONE | Minnesota Democrats Exposed Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 AM

    [...] here for the complete [...]

  43. MDE EXCLUSIVE: CONGRESSMAN WALZ’S BOOKING PHOTO AFTER DUI & SPEEDING ARREST | Minnesota Democrats Exposed Says:
    October 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 PM

    [...] first reported on Minnesota Democrats Exposed in 2006, Tim Walz was arrested in Nebraska for driving 96 in a 55 mph zone and for DUI on September 23, [...]

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