Official Summary Text
SB1540 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet
Assigned to
JUDE������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ FOR
COMMITTEE
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
Read the full stored 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