--- title: Tim Walz Was Charged With Drunk Driving in 1995 description: He has said the moment changed his life, prompting him to quit drinking. canonical: https://time.com/7008431/tim-walz-dui-drunk-driving/ author: Brian Bennett article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-08-06T20:19:02.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:48:46.630Z article:section: Politics og:title: What to Know About Tim Walz' 1995 Drunk Driving Charge og:description: He has said the moment changed his life, prompting him to quit drinking. og:url: https://time.com/7008431/tim-walz-dui-drunk-driving/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf2e0e80c72f8697c/698a59ab09208ffb0841d779/GettyImages-2159865817.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: US-POLITICS-ELECTION-BIDEN-VOTE-GOVERNORS og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What to Know About Tim Walz' 1995 Drunk Driving Charge twitter:description: He has said the moment changed his life, prompting him to quit drinking. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf2e0e80c72f8697c/698a59ab09208ffb0841d779/GettyImages-2159865817.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What to Know About Tim Walz' 1995 Drunk Driving Charge > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=343021a8-2586-4c7c-a4d7-1cd29cc04e8d&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Kamala Harris Introduces Running Mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Rally in Philadelphia [Watch (HLS stream): Kamala Harris Introduces Running Mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Rally in Philadelphia](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/vZrdJ2Rt.m3u8) (5:09)  _Published 2024-08-07. Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election, elevating the progressive midwestern Democrat whose clear and caustic messaging about former President Donald Trump—labeling him “weird”—has gone viral in recent weeks._  by [Brian Bennett](https://time.com/author/brian-bennett/)  ## Brian Bennett Bennett is a former senior White House correspondent at TIME. Aug 6, 2024 8:19 PM UTC  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to reporters after a meeting at the White House on July 3, 2024. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to reporters after a meeting at the White House on July 3, 2024. Jim Watson—AFP via Getty Images  by [Brian Bennett](https://time.com/author/brian-bennett/)  ## Brian Bennett Bennett is a former senior White House correspondent at TIME. Aug 6, 2024 8:19 PM UTC It’s an episode in his life that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz points to as the reason he stopped drinking. In 1995, Walz was a 31-year-old high school teacher living in Nebraska when he was pulled over for speeding, failed a sobriety test, and was arrested, according to court documents posted online two years ago by [Alpha News,](https://alphanews.org/court-transcript-sheds-new-light-on-walzs-dui-arrest/) a conservative site based in Minnesota. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving. Since that night, Walz has served with the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of command sergeant major, won six Congressional races, and was elected to two terms as Governor of Minnesota. And now, Vice President Kamala Harris has [picked](https://time.com/7007841/kamala-harris-vice-president-tim-walz/) him to be her running mate. Soon after Walz’ name emerged on Harris’ shortlist, supporters of former President Donald Trump began sharing details of Walz' nearly 30-year-old DUI on social media. In an 2018 interview with the [Minneapolis Star Tribune,](https://www.startribune.com/tim-walz-s-campaign-for-minnesota-governor-aims-to-bridge-the-great-divide/495297961) Walz described the episode as a gut-check moment. He had gotten married the year before. That night, he was driving home from watching college football with some friends. His wife Gwen Walz described to the Star Tribune how she told her husband after the arrest that now that he’s married, he has obligations and “can’t make dumb choices.” The officer at the scene noted that Walz’s silver Miata was going 96 miles per hour in an area where the speed limit was 55\. When Walz saw a car pull out quickly behind him, he sped up thinking someone was chasing him, Walz’s lawyer explained to the court. Walz stopped when the officer turned on the patrol car’s flashing lights. After his arrest, Walz’s license was suspended for 90 days. He offered to resign his teaching job at Alliance High School, but the principal talked him out of it, according to court documents. The judge in the case agreed to reduce the charge from a DUI to reckless driving and fine Walz $200 plus court costs. ## Transcript On behalf of myself and the first second gentleman of the United States, my husband Doug Ma. Thank you for the warm welcome. So Philadelphia, I launched my campaign for the President of the United States emir two weeks ago. And it's been a bit of a whirlwind. And just last night, the delegates to the Democratic National Convention finished voting. And so I stand I stand before you today to proudly announce I am now officially the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Since the day that I announced my candidacy, I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future. A leader who will help unite our nation and move us forward. A fighter for the middle class, a patriot who believes as I do in the extraordinary promise of America. A promise a promise a freedom, opportunity, and justice, not just for some, but for all. So, Pennsylvania, I'm here today because I found such a leader. Governor Tim Waltz of the Great State of Minnesota. And to his former high school football players, he was coach. Coach. Coach. And in 91 days, the nation will know Coach Waltz by another name, Vice President of the United States. And as I think everyone here can see, Tim Walz was the kind of teacher and mentor that every child in America dreams of having and that every kid deserves. The kind of coach, because he's the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspires them to dream big. And that's the kind of vice president he will be. And now Welcome the next Vice President of the United States, Tim Wall. Wow. Thank you, Philadelphia. Thank you, Madam Vice President for the trust you put in me, but maybe more so, thank you for bringing back the joy. I'm thrilled to be on this journey with you and Doug, this incredible journey. And Pennsylvania, I know you know this. But my God, what a treasure you have in Josh Shapiro. And I can't wait for all of you and America to get to know my incredible wife, Gwen, a 29 year public school educator. Don't ever underestimate teachers. And our two beautiful kids, Hope and Goss. I couldn't be prouder to be on this ticket. And to help Vice President Harris become, what we all know, is very, very good for us to think about. 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