Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 28
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles that is designed, used or maintained to transport passengers or property in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise, that is a commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 28-5201 and that is not exempt from gross weight fees as prescribed in section 28-5432, subsection B.

2. "Controlled access highway" means a highway, street or roadway to or from which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access except at such points only and in the manner determined by the public authority that has jurisdiction over the highway, street or roadway.

3. "Crosswalk" means:

(a) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the prolongations or connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway.

(b) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere that is distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

4. "Escort vehicle" means a vehicle that is required pursuant to rules adopted by the department to escort motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles that require issuance of a permit pursuant to article 18 or 19 of this chapter for operation on the highways of this state.

5. "Explosives" means any chemical compound, mixture or device that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and that is defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations part 173.

6. "Flammable liquid" means any liquid that has a flash point of less than one hundred degrees Fahrenheit and that is defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 173.120.

7. "Gross weight" means the weight of a vehicle without a load plus the weight of any load on the vehicle.

8. "Intersection" means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling on different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict. If a highway includes two roadways thirty or more feet apart, each crossing of each roadway of the divided highway by an intersecting highway is a separate intersection. If the intersecting highway also includes two roadways thirty or more feet apart, each crossing of two roadways of the highways is a separate intersection.

9. "License" means any license, temporary instruction permit or temporary license issued under the laws of this state or any other state that pertain to the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles.

10. "Low emission and energy efficient vehicle" means a vehicle that has been certified by the United States environmental protection agency administrator in accordance with 23 United States Code section 166 or that is part of a federally approved pilot program.

11. "Motorized wheelchair" means any self-propelled wheelchair that is used by a person for mobility.

12. "Official traffic control device" means any sign, signal, marking or device that is not inconsistent with this chapter and that is placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.

13. "Park", if prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.

14. "Photo enforcement system" means a device substantially consisting of a radar unit or sensor linked to a camera or other recording device that produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes or digital or other recorded images of a vehicle's license plate for the purpose of identifying violators of articles 3 and 6 of this chapter.

15. "Pneumatic tire" means a tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load.

16. "Pole trailer" means a vehicle that is all of the following:

(a) Without motive power.

(b) Designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle.

(c) Used ordinarily for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable generally of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.

17. "Police officer" means an officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or make arrests for violations of traffic rules or other offenses.

18. "Private road or driveway" means a way or place that is in private ownership and that is used for vehicular travel by the owner and those persons who have express or implied permission from the owner but not by other persons.

19. "Railroad" means a carrier of persons or property on cars operated on stationary rails.

20. "Railroad sign or signal" means a sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train.

21. "Railroad train" means a steam engine or any electric or other motor that is with or without cars coupled to the steam engine or electric or other motor and that is operated on rails.

22. "Roadway" means that portion of a highway that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.  If a highway includes two or more separate roadways, roadway refers to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.

23. "Safety zone" means the area or space that is both:

(a) Officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians.

(b) Protected or either marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.

24. "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street that is between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines and that is intended for the use of pedestrians.

25. "Stop", if required, means complete cessation from movement.

26. "Stop, stopping or standing", if prohibited, means any stopping or standing of an occupied or unoccupied vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.

27. "Through highway" means a highway or portion of a highway at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to stop before entering or crossing and when stop signs are erected as provided in this chapter.

28. "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together while using a highway for purposes of travel.

29. "Traffic control signal" means a device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

30. "Truck" means a motor vehicle that is designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1964–2026 · leading case: State of Arizona v. Francisco Flores Huez, Jr., 380 P.3d 103 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016).
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State of Arizona v. Francisco Flores Huez, Jr., 380 P.3d 103 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “” A.R.S. § 28-601(22). ¶ 5 The undisputed facts establish conclusively that Huez was not riding his bicycle on a roadway.”
United States v. Abel Aguirre Mariscal, 285 F.3d 1127 (9th Cir. 2002). “” Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 28-601(26). In some sense a stationary but occupied police car can be said to be using the roadway for travel, inasmuch as it is there for the purpose of moving along the road at some point, but to suggest that Officer Garrett’s car was traveling at the time…”
State v. Baggett, 306 P.3d 81 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “” The statute’s reference to "this chapter” refers to Chapter 3, entitled "Traffic and Vehicle Regulation,” which consists of A.R.S. §§ 28-601 through 28-1205. . A.R.S.”
State v. Bouck, 241 P.3d 524 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 8× “He points out that A.R.S. § 28-601(21) (2008) defines “roadway” to mean a “highway.”
State of Arizona v. Michael Anthony Salcido, 362 P.3d 508 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2015). “Section 28-601(28), A.R.S., defines “traffic” as “pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together while using a highway for purposes of travel.”
Arizona Corp. Comm'n v. Pac. Motor Trucking Co., 398 P.2d 114 (Ariz. 1964). · cites it 3× “" In 1950 the legislature adopted the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways, A.R.S. § 28-601, et seq. This latter act is a comprehensive code and includes a chapter on "Equipment".”
State v. Klein, 708 P.2d 758 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “02 is found within the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways, A.R.S. §§ 28-601 et seq. It is not in the Arizona Criminal Code, A.”
Franz v. State (Ariz. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “” A.R.S. § 28-601(2). Typically, this highway is known as a freeway.”
Woodall (D. Ariz. 2026). · cites it 2× “” A.R.S. § 28-601(24). 1 Plaintiff’s First Amendment Retaliation Claim on the basis that they had probable cause 2 for trespass.”
Megan McKay v. City of Tucson (9th Cir. 2018). “03 as a matter of law); see also Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601 (22) (defining “roadway” as the “portion of a highway that is .”
State of Arizona v. Christopher Cruz Cuevas, 153 P.3d 414 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). “, defines an "intersection” as the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(2) — 1 case
Franz v. State (Ariz. Ct. App. 2025). “” A.R.S. § 28-601(2). Typically, this highway is known as a freeway.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(21) — 1 case
State v. Bouck, 241 P.3d 524 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). “He points out that A.R.S. § 28-601(21) (2008) defines “roadway” to mean a “highway.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(22) — 2 cases
State of Arizona v. Francisco Flores Huez, Jr., 380 P.3d 103 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). “” A.R.S. § 28-601(22). ¶ 5 The undisputed facts establish conclusively that Huez was not riding his bicycle on a roadway.”
State v. Bouck, 241 P.3d 524 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). “He points out that A.R.S. § 28-601(21) (2008) defines “roadway” to mean a “highway.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(24) — 2 cases
State of Arizona v. Francisco Flores Huez, Jr., 380 P.3d 103 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). “” A.R.S. § 28-601(22). ¶ 5 The undisputed facts establish conclusively that Huez was not riding his bicycle on a roadway.”
Woodall (D. Ariz. 2026). “” A.R.S. § 28-601(24). 1 Plaintiff’s First Amendment Retaliation Claim on the basis that they had probable cause 2 for trespass.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(26) — 1 case
United States v. Abel Aguirre Mariscal, 285 F.3d 1127 (9th Cir. 2002). “” Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 28-601(26). In some sense a stationary but occupied police car can be said to be using the roadway for travel, inasmuch as it is there for the purpose of moving along the road at some point, but to suggest that Officer Garrett’s car was traveling at the time…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(28) — 1 case
State of Arizona v. Michael Anthony Salcido, 362 P.3d 508 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2015). “Section 28-601(28), A.R.S., defines “traffic” as “pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together while using a highway for purposes of travel.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-601(8) — 2 cases
State v. Bouck, 241 P.3d 524 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). “He points out that A.R.S. § 28-601(21) (2008) defines “roadway” to mean a “highway.”
State of Arizona v. Christopher Cruz Cuevas, 153 P.3d 414 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). “, defines an "intersection” as the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.