What an Arizona speeding ticket is
An Arizona speeding ticket written by an officer is a uniform traffic ticket and complaint. A.R.S. § 28-1592(A) (azleg.gov, retrieved 9 Oct 2026): “A civil traffic violation case is commenced by issuance or filing of a uniform traffic ticket and complaint as provided in this article.” The section number printed on the ticket shows which statute is charged: for example the speed rule in A.R.S. § 28-701, the “waste of a finite resource” rule in § 28-702.01, or excessive speed under § 28-701.02. Confirm what your notice says.
US overview: What a speeding ticket notice is. Contrast: What an NYC speeding ticket is · What a California speeding ticket is · What a Florida speeding ticket is · What a Pennsylvania speeding ticket is · What a Virginia speeding ticket is · What a Colorado speeding ticket is · What a Maryland speeding ticket is · What a Tennessee speeding ticket is · What a Washington speeding ticket is · What a New Mexico speeding ticket is · What an Illinois speeding ticket is.
Civil or criminal — what the statutes say
A.R.S. § 28-1591(A): “A violation of a statute relating to traffic movement and control, including a statute governing parking or standing requirements, shall be treated as a civil matter as provided in chapter 3 of this title or this chapter, unless the statute provides for a different classification as a criminal offense.” A.R.S. § 28-1521: “A person who violates a provision of chapter 3 of this title or this chapter is subject to a civil penalty unless the statute defining the offense provides for a criminal classification.” That is the statute’s statement.
Excessive speed under A.R.S. § 28-701.02(A) is listed as a class 3 misdemeanor in § 28-701.02(B): “A person who violates subsection A of this section is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.” Subsection A states “A person shall not:” (1) “Exceed thirty-five miles per hour approaching a school crossing.” (2) “Exceed the posted speed limit in a business or residential district by more than twenty miles per hour, or if no speed limit is posted, exceed forty-five miles per hour.” (3) “Exceed the posted speed limit by more than twenty miles per hour in other locations.” Subsection C: “A person who is charged with a violation of this section may not be issued a civil complaint for a violation of section 28-701 if the civil complaint alleges a violation arising out of the same circumstances.” That is the statute’s statement. This page does not decide which section applies to your ticket.
Speed limits (A.R.S. § 28-701, § 28-702 and § 28-707)
A.R.S. § 28-701(A): “A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing.” Subsection B: “Except as provided in subsections C and D of this section or except if a special hazard requires a lesser speed, any speed in excess of the following speeds is prima facie evidence that the speed is too great and therefore unreasonable:” (1) “Fifteen miles per hour approaching a school crossing.” (2) “Twenty-five miles per hour in a business or residential district.” (3) “Sixty-five miles per hour in other locations.” Subsection C: “The speed limits prescribed in this section may be altered as authorized in sections 28-702 and 28-703.” That is the statute’s statement.
A.R.S. § 28-702(B), for a limit set on a state highway: “The maximum speed limit determined pursuant to this section is effective when appropriate signs giving notice of the maximum speed limit are erected.” A.R.S. § 28-707(A): “In a charge of violating a speed restriction in this article, the complaint shall specify all of the following:” (1) “The speed at which the defendant is alleged to have driven and the maximum speed applicable within the district or at the location.” That is the statute’s statement. Read the speed and the limit printed on your ticket.
“Waste of a finite resource” (A.R.S. § 28-702.01)
A.R.S. § 28-702.01(A) states that where the maximum speed limit on a public highway is “at least thirty miles per hour in an area that is outside of an urbanized area” or “at least forty miles per hour in an urbanized area”, “a person shall not drive a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit on that highway”. It continues: “If the speed at which the person is alleged to have driven as provided in section 28-707, subsection A or the speed at which the court finds the person drove is not more than ten miles per hour in excess of the posted speed limit, the offense may be designated as the waste of a finite resource and is a civil traffic violation subject to subsection B of this section.” That is the statute’s statement. This page does not decide whether a road is in an urbanized area or whether § 28-702.01 applies to your ticket.
Subsection B begins: “If a person is found responsible for a civil traffic violation pursuant to subsection A of this section:” Paragraph 1: “A department or agency of this state shall not consider the violation for the purpose of determining whether the person's driver license should be suspended or revoked and a court shall not transmit abstracts of records of judgment for the violation to the department.” Paragraph 2: “An insurer shall not consider the violation as a moving traffic violation against the person for the purpose of establishing rates of motor vehicle insurance charged by the insurer and shall not cancel or refuse to renew a policy of insurance because of the violation.” Paragraph 3: “The civil penalty shall not exceed $15 plus the surcharges imposed pursuant to sections 12-116.01 and 12-116.02.” That is the statute’s statement.
Subsection C, for the same roads: if the alleged or found speed “is more than ten miles per hour in excess of the posted speed limit, the offense is designated as a civil traffic violation and the person is subject to a civil penalty of not more than the amount provided in section 28-1598.” That is the statute’s statement.
Civil penalty cap and surcharges (A.R.S. § 28-1598, § 12-116.01, § 12-116.02)
A.R.S. § 28-1598: “Except as otherwise provided, a civil penalty imposed pursuant to this article shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars. In addition, the court shall levy surcharges pursuant to sections 12-116.01 and 12-116.02.” A.R.S. § 12-116.01(A), (B) and (C) each begin “In addition to any penalty provided by law, a surcharge shall be levied in an amount of” and set surcharges of forty-two percent, seven percent and six percent; § 12-116.02(A) sets an additional surcharge of thirteen percent. Each applies to civil penalties “imposed and collected for a civil traffic violation”. § 12-116.01(F): “The surcharge imposed by this section shall be applied to the base fine, civil penalty or forfeiture and not to any other surcharge imposed.” A.R.S. § 12-116.04(A), § 12-116.08(A), § 12-116.09(A) and § 12-116.10(A) each begin “In addition to any other penalty assessment provided by law, a penalty assessment shall be levied in an amount of” and each applies to a civil penalty for a civil traffic violation. That is the statute’s statement. This page does not list every surcharge or assessment that may apply, does not apply them to any amount, and does not compute a total.
Amounts printed on the Mohave County justice court fine schedule
The Mohave County courts’ Traffic page (mohavecourts.com) prints a “JUSTICE COURT FINE SCHEDULE”. The page shows no effective date for the schedule; the amounts below are as the page showed them when retrieved on 9 Oct 2026. It states: “Listed below are Violation Codes with amounts including mandatory surcharges and assessments. If the violation is not listed, contact the Court.” For § 28-701 it prints these speed rows:
| Row on the Mohave schedule | Amount printed |
|---|---|
| “28-701#1” “1-10 miles over” | $230.00 |
| “28-701#2” “11-15 miles over” | $245.00 |
| “28-701#3” “16-20 miles over” | $260.00 |
| “28-701#4” “21-25 miles over” | $275.00 |
| “28-701#5” “26-30 miles over” | $330.00 |
| “28-701#6” “31-35 miles over” | $355.00 |
| “28-701#7” “36-40 miles over” | $380.00 |
| “28-701#8” “41+ miles over” | $405.00 |
That is the court’s statement. The schedule also prints other rows, including an “Accident” row for § 28-701, rows for § 28-702.01 and § 28-702.04, and separate “Criminal Speed” rows for § 28-701.02; this page does not reproduce them. The same page states: “If the charges indicate Criminal on your Citation you must appear in court on the date and time indicated on your citation.” This page did not verify the amounts used by any other Arizona court. Confirm what your notice says.
Points on the driving record
UNKNOWN. This page does not state how many points, if any, a speeding violation carries on an Arizona driving record. The § 28-702.01(B) text quoted above is the statute’s statement. Confirm your driving record with ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division.
A.R.S. § 28-3306(A): “The department may suspend or revoke the license of a driver or require a licensee to attend and successfully complete approved traffic survival school educational sessions designed to improve the safety and habits of drivers on a showing by department records or other sufficient evidence that the licensee:” (3) “Has been convicted of or adjudged to have violated traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles with such a frequency that it indicates a disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways.” That is the statute’s statement. We do not tell you how a ticket will affect your license or insurance.
Paths the ticket describes (not which to choose)
Read the court name, the appearance date, and the response instructions printed on your ticket. We do not tell you whether to pay, request a hearing, or take any other step.
Violation.com does not collect Arizona civil penalties or fines. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.
Sources retrieved 9 Oct 2026:
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/01592.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/01591.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/01521.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00701-02.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00701.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00702.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00707.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00702-01.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/01598.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00116-01.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00116-02.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00116-04.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00116-08.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00116-09.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00116-10.htm
- https://www.mohavecourts.com/services/traffic
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/03306.htm
Not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with a government agency. Information Only.