SB1413 amends Arizona’s traffic and restitution statutes in two related ways. First, it updates the traffic-control-signal statute to clarify the rules for drivers and pedestrians at red, yellow, and green signals, including the existing requirement that a driver who violates the red-light provision and is convicted must complete traffic survival school, with possible license suspension if that education is not completed. Second, it revises the offense of causing serious physical injury or death by a moving violation to include a red-light violation under section 28-645(A)(3)(a) as a qualifying underlying offense.
The bill also changes the restitution consequences for that offense by removing the current $100,000 cap on restitution awarded under section 13-603 when the offense results in serious physical injury or death. In practical terms, that means courts would no longer be limited to awarding restitution up to that amount in these cases, potentially increasing the financial exposure of defendants whose moving violations cause severe harm or death. The bill leaves in place the existing misdemeanor classification, mandatory traffic survival school, possible community restitution, and license-suspension provisions tied to convictions under the statute.
Impact
SB1413 would amend sections 28-645 and 28-672 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Its main legal effect is to remove the statutory ceiling on restitution for serious-injury or death cases arising from specified moving violations, including red-light violations, while preserving the rest of the criminal and administrative penalty structure. The bill affects drivers convicted of qualifying traffic offenses, victims seeking restitution, courts imposing restitution, and the Department of Transportation/Motor Vehicle Division administering license-related sanctions.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received strong support in the Senate and in House committees, with unanimous or near-unanimous committee votes and a 27-1 Senate third-reading vote. However, it was overwhelmingly rejected on House third reading, suggesting that while the policy may have been acceptable in committee, it became controversial on the floor. The available vote history indicates broad support in some stages but significant opposition at final House passage consideration.
Contention
The central point of contention is the removal of the $100,000 restitution cap for serious injury or death caused by a moving violation. Supporters likely viewed the change as expanding victim compensation and aligning restitution with actual losses, while opponents may have been concerned about unlimited financial liability, fairness in traffic cases, or the scope of the bill beyond a simple technical correction. The bill’s caption also changed from a technical/veterans/tuition deferment measure to a moving-violation restitution measure, which may have contributed to procedural or substantive objections.