- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
San Antonio Councilwoman Avoids DWI Conviction with Plea Deal
Ivalis Meza Gonzalez pleads no contest to obstruction of a highway charge, receives probation and fine.
Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:47am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez has avoided a DWI conviction by taking a plea deal. Prosecutors dropped the original DWI charge against Meza Gonzalez, and she instead pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of obstruction of a highway, a Class B misdemeanor. As part of the deal, Meza Gonzalez must pay a $1,000 fine, serve nine months of probation, and complete 24 hours of community service.
Why it matters
Meza Gonzalez's arrest and plea deal have drawn scrutiny to the issue of elected officials facing DWI charges in San Antonio. Her case follows similar incidents involving other city council members, raising questions about accountability and the public's trust in local government.
The details
Meza Gonzalez was pulled over on July 14 on Interstate 10 West near Hildebrand Avenue, where police said she was swerving and had a blood alcohol concentration nearly double the legal limit. She initially refused to provide a breath sample, but a judge later ordered her to submit to a blood test. Prosecutors have not released the results of that test.
- Meza Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of DWI on July 14, 2026.
- On January 27, 2026, Meza Gonzalez pleaded no contest to the obstruction of a highway charge.
The players
Ivalis Meza Gonzalez
A District 8 councilwoman in San Antonio who was arrested on suspicion of DWI in July 2026.
Alfredo Ximenez
The judge in Bexar County Court 4 who accepted Meza Gonzalez's plea deal.
Joe Gonzales
The Bexar County District Attorney who recused himself from Meza Gonzalez's case due to a long-standing acquaintance with her father.
Jonathan Fischer
The assistant Atascosa County Attorney who managed Meza Gonzalez's case.
Gina Ortiz Jones
The mayor of San Antonio who stripped Meza Gonzalez of her City Council committee assignments for four months following her arrest.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
