ARIZONA STATE SENATE

ZACK DEAN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

MILITARY AFFAIRS, PUBLIC SAFETY & BORDER SECURITY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

MILITARY AFFAIRS, PUBLIC SAFETY & BORDER SECURITY COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 6, 2023

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1022, relating to pedestrians; medians; prohibition

Purpose

            Prohibits a pedestrian from remaining on a painted traffic median or a raised traffic island or median that is less than 10 feet wide, with certain exceptions.

Background

A person commits obstructing a highway or other public thoroughfare if they recklessly interfere with the passage of any highway or public thoroughfare by creating an unreasonable inconvenience or hazard, or by intentionally using a pedestrian signal sign to stop the passage of traffic or to solicit a driver for a donation or business (A.R.S. § 13-2906).

Unless otherwise provided, failure to adhere to state traffic laws is a civil traffic violation, which carries a civil penalty not to exceed $250 (A.R.S. §§ 28-121 and 28-1598). A civil penalty is also subject to various surcharges totaling 78 percent of the base penalty and $44 in additional assessments (JLBC).

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

Provisions

1. Prohibits a pedestrian from remaining on a painted traffic median or a raised traffic island or median that is less than 10 feet wide, except while expeditiously crossing the traffic median or island from one side of a street to another.

2. Exempts the following from this prohibition:

a) a person who is dealing with an exigent circumstance, including a medical emergency or a motor vehicle problem; and

b) a traffic median or island that contains constructed paths, sidewalks, bus stops, benches or similar structures that are designed to accommodate a person's presence.

3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.