 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
moving violations; red light
Purpose
Background
Vehicular traffic facing a steady red-light indicator must stop before entering the intersection and must remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown. A person who fails to stop at a red light as outlined, must be ordered by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to attend and successfully complete traffic survival school within 60 days after ADOT issues the order. If the person fails to attend or complete the traffic survival school courses, ADOT must suspend the person's driving privilege until the person attends and successfully completes the courses (A.R.S. § 28-645).
A person is guilty of causing serious physical injury or death by a moving violation if the violation results in an accident that causes serious physical injury or death to another person and is a prescribed moving violation, including, but not limited to, moving violations resulting from a person's failure to stop before entering the intersection at a red light. A person who causes serious physical injury or death by a moving violation must attend ADOT approved traffic survival school educational sessions that are designed to improve the safety habits of drivers and the person's driving privilege must be suspended or restricted for: 1) 90 days to 180 days for a first violation resulting in serious physical injury; 2) 180 days to 365 days for a first violation resulting in death; 3) 180 days for a second or subsequent violation that occurs within 36 months of a previous violation and that results in serious physical injury; and 4) 365 days for a second or subsequent violation that occurs within 36 months of a previous violation and that results in death. Causing serious physical injury or death by a moving violation is a class 1 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 28-672).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that a person fails to obey a traffic control device when failing to slow a vehicle to a complete stop at a red light where the vehicle would have entered the intersection if not for another vehicle or other obstruction.
2. Adds prescribed moving violations that occur simultaneously with or in the course of an accident that causes serious physical injury or death to the conditions which subject a person to enhanced penalties for causing serious physical injury or death by a moving violation.
3. Specifies that a person must slow a vehicle to a complete stop at a red light before entering the intersection.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 30, 2026
LMM/KS/ci