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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
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 mayor of the municipality in which the violation or offense occurred.
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 mayor of the municipality in which the violation or offense occurred.
2. Allows a mayor to sign the citation by electronic signature.
3. Stipulates that, if a citation is not signed by a mayor, 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 mayor not signing the citation.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires a citation for a civil traffic violation or offense that is generated by a photo enforcement system to be signed by the mayor, rather than by a presiding judge, of the municipality in which the violation or offense occurred.
2. Makes conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
TI 2/04/26 DPA 7-0-0-0 ATT 3/17/26 DP 6-2-2
3rd Read 2/24/26 56-0-4
Prepared by Senate Research
April 16, 2026
LMM/KS/ci