Paul Pelosi charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run over parked car collision

Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was charged Friday with a misdemeanor hit-and-run over a collision with a parked car.

Objective Facts

Paul Pelosi, 86 and husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was charged Friday with a misdemeanor hit-and-run over a collision with a parked car on July 3 in Yountville, California. He briefly stopped and then allegedly drove away; the parked car was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. Pelosi faces one misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of a property-damage collision, along with a separate traffic infraction for allegedly making an unsafe turning movement. Pelosi did not have any alcohol in his system. A family spokesperson said Pelosi "personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle." Pelosi is scheduled to appear in Napa County Superior Court on Aug. 14. Pelosi pleaded guilty in 2022 to misdemeanor driving under the influence in Napa County and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation, including fines, victim restitution, a three-month drinking driver class, and an ignition interlock device requirement.

Deep Dive

Paul Pelosi's July 3 collision in Yountville occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. when his brown convertible struck a legally parked, unoccupied car and caused what authorities described as major damage. A witness called 911 and told investigators that Pelosi briefly stopped before driving away; deputies found Pelosi roughly a quarter-mile from the collision after damage to the front of his own vehicle left it unable to continue. Pelosi allegedly acknowledged that he knew he had hit something, but said he did not know what he had struck and kept driving until the car became disabled. The charging decision represents a high-profile application of California Vehicle Code section 20002. The District Attorney's Office said it does not typically announce charges in misdemeanor hit-and-run cases involving only property damage but made an exception because of the significant public and media interest surrounding the case. The office addressed questions about why Pelosi was not charged with driving under the influence, stating "The District Attorney's Office has an ethical obligation to file only those charges that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt based on the available evidence." This is Pelosi's second driving-related legal matter in Napa County within four years. In May 2022, he was involved in a DUI crash in the county and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, receiving five days in jail, three years of probation, and ordered to complete a three-month driving class, install an ignition interlock device, and pay $5,000 in restitution plus $2,000 in additional fines. In recent years Pelosi has had driving infractions in four Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Napa, reportedly including driving the wrong way down a one-way street, speeding, using a cellphone without a hands-free device, and failing to stop at a red light. The maximum penalty for the current misdemeanor charge is a $1,000 fine or six months in county jail, or both. Pelosi's court appearance on August 14 will mark the first step in the legal process; whether he accepts a plea agreement or proceeds to trial remains to be determined.

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Paul Pelosi charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run over parked car collision

Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was charged Friday with a misdemeanor hit-and-run over a collision with a parked car.

Jul 18, 2026· Updated Jul 20, 2026
What's Going On
  • Pelosi, 86, was driving his brown convertible July 3 in Yountville, California, when he struck a legally parked car on the side of the road.
  • He briefly stopped and then allegedly drove away; the parked car was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.
  • Pelosi faces one misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of a property-damage collision, along with a separate traffic infraction for allegedly making an unsafe turning movement.
  • Pelosi did not have any alcohol in his system, according to the statement.
  • Pelosi is scheduled to appear in Napa County Superior Court on Aug. 14.
Objective Deep Dive

Paul Pelosi's July 3 collision in Yountville occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. when his brown convertible struck a legally parked, unoccupied car and caused what authorities described as major damage. A witness called 911 and told investigators that Pelosi briefly stopped before driving away; deputies found Pelosi roughly a quarter-mile from the collision after damage to the front of his own vehicle left it unable to continue. Pelosi allegedly acknowledged that he knew he had hit something, but said he did not know what he had struck and kept driving until the car became disabled. The charging decision represents a high-profile application of California Vehicle Code section 20002. The District Attorney's Office said it does not typically announce charges in misdemeanor hit-and-run cases involving only property damage but made an exception because of the significant public and media interest surrounding the case. The office addressed questions about why Pelosi was not charged with driving under the influence, stating "The District Attorney's Office has an ethical obligation to file only those charges that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt based on the available evidence."

This is Pelosi's second driving-related legal matter in Napa County within four years. In May 2022, he was involved in a DUI crash in the county and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, receiving five days in jail, three years of probation, and ordered to complete a three-month driving class, install an ignition interlock device, and pay $5,000 in restitution plus $2,000 in additional fines. In recent years Pelosi has had driving infractions in four Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Napa, reportedly including driving the wrong way down a one-way street, speeding, using a cellphone without a hands-free device, and failing to stop at a red light. The maximum penalty for the current misdemeanor charge is a $1,000 fine or six months in county jail, or both. Pelosi's court appearance on August 14 will mark the first step in the legal process; whether he accepts a plea agreement or proceeds to trial remains to be determined.