Vice mayor arrested for DUI after wrecking Tesla in Florida, investigators say

OLDSMAR, Fla. — A vice mayor of a Florida town was arrested Wednesday morning for driving under the influence after crashing her Tesla with an open container of Fireball whisky in the center console, officials said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Linda Norris, vice mayor of Oldsmar, was seen driving a red Tesla erratically before she rear-ended a vehicle, causing it to crash into another vehicle around 10:30 a.m., the Tampa Bay Times reported. No one was injured.

Investigators said Norris, 59, stepped out of the vehicle and was slurring her speech and unsteady. Deputies found an open container of Fireball whisky in the center console. Two more unopened bottles were in her purse, officials said.

Investigators said she failed field sobriety exercises and refused to take a Breathalyzer exam. She was arrested on misdemeanor DUI third offense and refusal to submit to testing, according to jail records. She was released on $1,000 bond, according to jail records.

“It’s infuriating to know some drivers have no respect for the law or the lives around them,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Furthermore, Linda Norris is a public official and should behave accordingly. Instead, she serves as an example of our commitment to identifying and catching those who break the law, no matter who they are.”

Norris has served on the Oldsmar city council since 2010. Oldsmar Mayor Eric Seidel was saddened when he heard about the incident.

“Based on what the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has posted online, we are disappointed to learn of Linda’s reported conduct,” Seidel told WFTS-TV. “However, we are just now learning of the event and do not know any additional details at this time.”

Cox Media Group