Superintendent of Public Instruction Hedalen Cited for DUI, Apologizes for ‘Lapse in Judgment’
By Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan
Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen was cited this week in Belgrade for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Hedalen, serving in her first term as head of the Office of Public Instruction, has not yet appeared in Belgrade Municipal Court to enter a plea.
Lee Enterprises first reported the citation, a misdemeanor.
In a statement Friday, Hedalen, a Republican, apologized for her poor judgment.
“I apologize and take full responsibility for my lapse in judgement that led to this incident,” Hedalen said in a statement emailed from her chief of staff.
“I want to thank the Belgrade Police for their professionalism and commitment to public safety. As I move forward from this personal issue, it will in no way impact my service to the people of Montana.”
Hedalen was released from the Gallatin County Detention Center on an $885 bond on June 22, the same day she received the citation, according to the court.
A patrol officer outlined the incident that led to her arrest in an affidavit of probable cause.
Late Saturday night, Hedalen was traveling 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, “almost cut off several vehicles” in a turn, and was “slow to react” to the officer’s emergency lights, said the court record.
She had “a dazed expression,” “very slow movements,” and bloodshot eyes, the affidavit said.
“I could smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle,” the officer said.
Hedalen told the officer she had had “one glass of wine,” said the court record. The affidavit said Hedalen failed both a field sobriety test and a preliminary breath sample.
The legal blood alcohol content limit in Montana is 0.08 percent.
Hedalen subsequently declined to provide an Intoxilyzer breath sample and was transported to the hospital for a blood sample, according to the court record.
Results of the blood test are not yet available, according to the Belgrade Police Department.
However, the Belgrade City Attorney’s Office said results of the test would be considered part of “confidential criminal justice information” until the case concludes.
Hedalen must make an initial appearance in court within 10 days, on or before July 8, according to municipal court.
Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen previously pleaded guilty to a traffic violation for “following too closely,” a 2023 incident she described as a “bump with the bumper,” and no contest for illegally passing a school bus in 2022.
Arntzen led OPI for two terms, the last eight years. Hedalen won the office in November 2024 and took her oath in January 2025.
Court records in Hedalen’s case said she had no prior convictions for driving under the influence.
The maximum penalty for a first violation DUI is generally imprisonment of not less than 24 hours or more than six months and a fine of not less than $600 or more than $1,000.