moving violation; citation; AZPOST-certified officer.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

SB1625: Rules for Traffic Tickets, Time Limits, and Who Can Write Them

This bill sets specific time limits for starting civil traffic cases based on the type of violation or accident involved and requires that moving violation tickets be issued only by peace officers.

What This Bill Does

• Requires a case started by issuing a ticket to happen within sixty days after the alleged violation.
• Requires a case started by filing a complaint to happen within sixty days after the alleged violation, with service of papers required within ninety days after filing.
• Allows up to one hundred eighty days to start a case if the violation is under investigation related to a traffic accident.
• Extends the time limit to one year for cases involving an investigation into a traffic accident that resulted in death.
• Requires courts to officially amend any original citation if a peace officer or authorized agent changes the date, time, location, or law cited on it.
• Limits who can write moving violation tickets so only peace officers may issue them.

Who It Names or Affects

• Peace officers and duly authorized traffic agents
• Courts handling civil traffic violations
• Drivers accused of committing a moving violation

Terms To Know

Civil traffic violation case

A legal process started by issuing or filing a uniform traffic ticket and complaint.

Peace officer

An authorized law enforcement official who is the only person allowed to issue moving civil traffic violations under this bill.

Moving violation

A type of civil traffic violation that, according to this bill, may only be issued by a peace officer.

Limits and Unknowns

• The official text does not state the specific date the law will become effective.
• The text defines time limits for starting cases but does not explain what happens if those deadlines are missed.

Official Summary Text

SB1625 - moving violation; citation; AZPOST-certified officer.

Current Bill Text

SB1625 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
moving violation; citation; AZPOST-certified officer.

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1625

Introduced by

Senator
Gowan

AN
ACT

Amending section 28-1592, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to civil traffic violations.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 28-1592, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
28-1592.

Commencement of action; original citation changes

A. A civil traffic violation case is commenced by
issuance or filing of a uniform traffic ticket and complaint as provided in
this article.

B. A civil traffic violation case shall be commenced
as follows:

1. If a case is commenced by issuance, it shall be
issued within sixty days after the alleged violation.

2. If the case is commenced by filing, it shall be
filed within sixty days after the alleged violation and shall be served within
ninety days after the filing date.

3. Except as provided in paragraph 4 of this
subsection, within one hundred eighty days after the alleged violation if the
alleged violation is under investigation in conjunction with a traffic
accident.

4. Within one year after the alleged violation if
the alleged violation is under investigation in conjunction with a traffic
accident resulting in death.

C. On an original citation, if a peace officer or
duly authorized traffic agent changes the date, time or location of the
violation or the section of law that is allegedly violated, the original
citation must be amended through the court pursuant to the Arizona rules of
civil
procedure for
traffic and civil boating violations.

D. A moving civil traffic violation
may only be issued by a
peace officer
.

END_STATUTE