motorcycles; reckless driving

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on penalties for first-time or repeat offenders beyond classifying it as a misdemeanor.

Motorcycles; Reckless Driving

This bill classifies operating a motorcycle between lanes or overtaking and passing another vehicle in the same lane as reckless driving, unless authorized under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

• Classifies operating a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or rows of vehicles as reckless driving if not authorized under certain conditions.
• Classifies overtaking and passing another vehicle while in the same lane as reckless driving unless the vehicle being passed is stopped.
• Updates Arizona Revised Statutes to reflect these changes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Motorcycle riders who violate the new rules on lane splitting or overtaking will face legal consequences.
• Law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing these new regulations.
• Courts and judges handling cases of reckless driving involving motorcycles.

Terms To Know

reckless disregard

Driving a vehicle without regard for the safety of others or property, which is considered very dangerous behavior.

class 2 misdemeanor

A type of criminal offense that is less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction, often punishable by fines and/or up to six months in jail.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact penalties for first-time offenders beyond classifying it as a misdemeanor.
• It remains unclear how this will affect motorcycle riders who are currently lane splitting or overtaking safely under existing laws.

Official Summary Text

HB2941 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2941

motorcycles;
reckless driving

Purpose

����������� Classifies
operating a motorcycle between the lanes of traffic or to overtake and pass a
vehicle in the same lane as reckless driving, which is a class 2 misdemeanor, except
when authorized.

Background

����������� All motorcycles are entitled to the full use
of a lane. However, the operator of a motorcycle may not overtake and pass in
the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken or
operate a
motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles,
unless the operator is: 1) overtaking and passing a vehicle that is stopped in
the same lane and direction of travel as the operator; or 2) operating the
motorcycle between lanes of traffic if the movement may be made safely and the
operator operates the motorcycle at a speed that does not exceed 15 miles per
hour on a street that is divided into at least two adjacent traffic lanes in
the same direction of travel and has a speed limit of up to 45 miles per hour (
A.R.S.
� 28-903
)

����������� A
person who drives a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or
property is guilty of reckless driving and, if convicted, guilty of a class 2
misdemeanor (
A.R.S.
� 28-693
).

����������� There
is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Classifies
the following as reckless driving, except when authorized:

a)

an operator of a motorcycle who overtakes and passes in the same lane
occupied by the vehicle being overtaken; and

b)

a person who operates a motorcycle between the lanes of traffic or
between adjacent rows of vehicles.

2.

Makes
conforming changes.

3.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Revisions

1.

Corrects
the purpose statement to classify the act as reckless driving, which is a class
2 misdemeanor, rather than a class 2 misdemeanor.

2.

Clarifies
the purpose statement and provisions to classify the act as reckless driving,
except when authorized, rather than as prescribed.

House Action
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Senate
Action

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Prepared by
Senate Research

March 24, 2026

KJA/hk

Current Bill Text

HB2941 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

motorcycles; reckless
driving

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2941

AN
ACT

Amending section 28-693, Arizona Revised Statutes;
relating to motorcycles.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 28-693, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
28-693.

Reckless driving; violation; classification; license; surrender;
aiding and abetting

A. A person who drives a vehicle in reckless
disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.

B. A person who operates a motorcycle
in violation of section 28-903, subsection B or C is guilty of reckless
driving.

B.
C.
A
person who is convicted of reckless driving is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

C.

D.
In
addition, the judge may require the surrender to a police officer of any driver
license of the convicted person, shall report the conviction to the department
and may order the driving privileges of the person to be suspended for a period
of not more than ninety days. On receipt of the abstract of
conviction and order, the department shall suspend the driving privilege of the
person for the period of time ordered by the judge.

D.

E.
If
a person who is convicted of a violation of this section has been previously
convicted of a violation of this section, section 13-1102 or section 13-1103,
subsection A, paragraph 1, in the driving of a vehicle, or section 28-694,
28-708, 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 within a period of
twenty-four months:

1. The person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

2. The person is not eligible for probation, pardon,
suspension of sentence or release on any basis until the person has served not
less than twenty days in jail.

3. The judge may require the surrender to a police
officer of any driver license of the person and shall immediately forward the
abstract of conviction to the department.

4. On receipt of the abstract of conviction, the
department shall suspend the driving privilege of the person for one year.

E.

F.
A
person who knowingly aids or abets another person in the commission of a
violation of this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor, except that a
second or subsequent violation within a period of twenty-four months is a class
1 misdemeanor.

F.

G.
In
applying the twenty-four month period provision of subsection
D
E
of this section, the dates of
the commission of the offense shall be the determining factor, irrespective of
the sequence in which the offenses were committed.� A second or subsequent
violation for which a conviction occurs as provided in this section does not
include a conviction for an offense arising out of the same series of acts.

G.

H.
On
pronouncement of a jail sentence under this section, and after the court
receives confirmation that the person is employed or is a student, the court
may provide in the sentence that if the defendant is employed or is a student
the defendant can continue employment or schooling for not more than twelve
hours per day nor more than five days per week.� The defendant shall spend the
remaining days or parts of days in jail until the sentence is served and shall
be allowed out of jail only long enough to complete the defendant's actual
hours of employment or schooling.

H.

I.
After
completing not less than forty-five consecutive days of the suspension
period required by subsection
D
E

of this section, a person whose driving privilege is suspended for a violation
of this section and who is sentenced pursuant to subsection
D
E
of this section may apply to the department for a restricted
driver license that allows the person to operate a motor vehicle during the
period of suspension subject to the restrictions described in section 28-144.

END_STATUTE