motor fuel theft; classifications

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is listed as the general effective date in the bill text but not specified with a calendar date.

SB1540: New Rules for Stealing Motor Fuel

This bill creates a specific crime called theft of motor fuel and sets felony penalties based on how the theft happens or if more than fifty gallons are stolen.

What This Bill Does

• Creates the crime of stealing motor fuel by breaching, tampering with, or electronically manipulating retail fuel dispensers without permission.
• Defines 'motor fuel' as including vehicle fuel, use fuel, and aviation fuel based on existing state law.
• Sets a class 6 felony penalty for breaking into a pump or possessing devices made to cheat the system unless more than fifty gallons are stolen.
• Increases the penalty to a class 5 felony if the person actually obtains more than fifty gallons of motor fuel through these actions.
• Classifies tampering with pump parts or using electronic signals to steal fuel as a class 5 felony.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who break into, tamper with, or use devices on retail gas pumps without authorization.
• Individuals who possess tools built specifically to cheat the operation of fuel dispensers.

Terms To Know

Retail fuel dispenser

The machine at a gas station used to pump motor vehicle, use, or aviation fuel into vehicles.

Class 5 felony

A serious crime that carries heavier penalties than lower-level felonies under Arizona law.

Motor fuel

Fuel used for motor vehicles, general use purposes, or airplanes as defined in state statutes.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact prison sentences or fines that judges must give for these crimes.
• The text states there is no expected cost to the state General Fund but does not detail other potential costs like court processing time.

Official Summary Text

SB1540 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

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ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1540

motor
fuel theft; classifications

Purpose

Establishes the criminal classification of
theft of motor fuel
and
prescribes penalty classifications for
theft of motor fuel
.

Background

A person commits theft

if, without lawful authority, the person
knowingly controls or obtains the property or services of another including,
but not limited to, instances in which the person: 1) controls the property of
another with the intent to deprive the other person of the property; 2) obtains
services or property of another by means of any material misrepresentation with
intent to deprive the other person of the property or services; or 3) obtains
services known to the defendant to be available only by compensation without
paying for the service or establishing an agreement to pay for the service.

Theft of property or services is classified by value and is a: 1) class 2
felony for $25,000 or more; 2) class 3 felony for amounts between $4,000 and
$25,000; 3) class 4 felony for amounts between $3,000 and $4,000; 4) class 5
felony for amounts between $2,000 and $3,000; 5) class 6 felony for amounts between
$1,000 and $2,000; and 6) class 1 misdemeanor for amounts that are less than
$1,000 (
A.R.S.
� 13-1802
).

Property
is any thing of value tangible or intangible, including
trade secrets.
Services
include labor, professional services,
transportation, cable service and video service, computer or communication
services, gas or electricity services, accommodation in hotels, restaurants or
leased premises or elsewhere, admission to exhibitions and use of vehicles or
other movable property (
A.R.S.
� 13-1801
).

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

Provisions

1.

Establishes
the criminal classification of
theft of motor fuel
that a person commits
by willfully, knowingly and without authorization:

a)

breaching a retail fuel dispenser or accesses any internal portion of a
retail fuel dispenser;

b)

possessing any device that is constructed for the purpose of
fraudulently altering, manipulating or interrupting the normal operation of a
retail fuel dispenser;

c)

physically tampering with, manipulating, removing, replacing or
interrupting any mechanical or electronic component that is located on the
internal or external portion of a retail fuel dispenser; or

d)

using
any form of electronic communication to fraudulently alter, manipulate or
interrupt the normal operation of a retail fuel dispenser.

2.

Classifies
theft of motor fuel
by breach of a retail fuel
dispenser or possession of a device constructed to alter the normal operation
of a retail fuel dispenser as a class 6 felony, or a class 5 felony if the
violation results in a person obtaining motor fuel.

3.

Classifies
theft of motor fuel
by tampering with a retail fuel
dispenser, as prescribed, or using electronic communication to fraudulently
alter the normal operation of a retail fuel dispenser as a class 5 felony.

4.

Defines
motor fuel
as motor vehicle fuel, use fuel and aviation
fuel.

5.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 7, 2026

ZD/KS/ci

Current Bill Text

SB1540 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed
Senate Bill

motor fuel theft;
classifications

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1540

AN
ACT

amending title 13, chapter 18, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-1821; relating to theft.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 13, chapter 18, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-1821, to read:

START_STATUTE
13-1821.

Theft of motor
fuel; classification; definition

A. A person commits theft of motor
fuel if the person wilfully, knowingly and without AUTHORIZATION:

1. Breaches a retail fuel dispenser
or accesses any internal portion of a retail fuel dispenser
WITH ANY DEVICE THAT IS CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FRAUDULENTLY
ALTERING, MANIPULATING OR INTERRUPTING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF A RETAIL FUEL
DISPENSER.

2. Physically tampers with,
manipulates, removes, replaces or interrupts any mechanical or electronic
component that is located on the internal or external portion of a retail fuel
dispenser.

3. Uses any form of electronic
communication to fraudulently alter, manipulate or interrupt the normal
operation of a retail fuel dispenser.

B. A violation of subsection A,
paragraph 1 of this section is a class 6 felony, except that if the violation
results in a person obtaining
more than fifty gallons of motor
fuel it is a class 5 felony.

C. A violation of subsection A,
paragraph 2 or
3 of this section is a class 5 felony.

D. For the purposes of this section,
"motor fuel" has the same meaning prescribed in section 28-5601.
END_STATUTE