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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
traffic violation; judge; signature; requirement
Purpose
Requires a civil traffic violation or misdemeanor criminal offense that is generated by a photo enforcement system to be signed by the presiding judge of the court in which the matter is being adjudicated.
Background
If a person receives notice in the mail for a violation of state or local speed restrictions or traffic control devices that is obtained using a photo enforcement system, the person does not have to: 1) identify who is in the photo; or 2) respond to the notice of violation. The notice must state that it is not a court-issued document, but failing to respond to the notice may result in official service that may lead to an additional fee being levied. An alternative service of process may be used to serve a citation. A person's driving privilege may not be suspended or revoked as a result of a citation served by the alternative service of process (A.R.S. § 28-1602).
A photo enforcement system is a device substantially consisting of a radar unit or sensor linked to a camera or other recording device that produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes or digital or other recorded images of a vehicle's license plate for the purpose of identifying violators of speed restrictions or traffic signs, signals and markings. (A.R.S. § 28-601).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a civil traffic violation citation or misdemeanor criminal offense generated by a photo enforcement system to be signed by the presiding judge of the court that is adjudicating the citation or offense.
2. Allows a presiding judge to sign the citation by electronic signature.
3. Stipulates that, if a citation is not signed by a presiding judge, the citation must be dismissed and the court must notify the person charged with the violation or offense that the citation is dismissed due to the presiding judge not signing the citation.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
TI 2/04/26 DPA 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/24/26 56-0-4
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2026
LMM/KS/ci