Eastern NC lawmaker arrested and charged with driving while impaired in Raleigh

North Carolina Sen. Norman Sanderson was arrested and charged with driving while impaired on Saturday evening, according to Wake County records.

Sanderson, 74, was also charged with having an open container of alcohol and failing to obey a traffic officer, the arrest warrant shows. He was arrested between Trinity and Edwards Mill Roads just after 9 p.m. His bond was set at $2,000, and he was released after posting bail at 10:42 p.m., court records show.

“Last night, I made a regrettable mistake, and I take responsibility for my actions,” Sanderson said in a statement provided to The News & Observer from Senate Republican Caucus spokesperson Lauren Horsch. “I want to apologize to my constituents, my colleagues, and my family for letting them down. I commend the State Highway Patrol and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism during the incident.”

Sanderson has also received citations for unsafe tires, a federal vehicle inspection violation and a “motor vehicle log book” violation in 2010, court records show.

The Republican lawmaker represents part of eight eastern North Carolina counties, including Carteret, Chowan and Pamlico.

This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM.