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House approves changes affecting commercial motor-vehicle rules and penalties, including reduced criminal exposure
Summary
Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 13-70, which adjusts rules for commercial motor vehicles including penalties for certain violations; supporters framed decriminalization as limiting unnecessary incarceration, while critics warned it could weaken enforcement of interstate and foreign commerce rules.
The Arizona House passed Senate Bill 13-70 on April 14, 2025. The measure adjusts provisions related to commercial motor vehicles, including allowing wider turns and changing certain criminal violations to civil penalties.
Representative Gris said she supported the safe-turning elements of the bill but opposed reducing criminal penalties for violations tied to interstate or foreign commerce, noting a risk that civil fines could become a cost of doing business for unregistered carriers. “I worry that we're going to just build into the price of doing business… Dollars 500. Don't have to worry about it here in Arizona,” she said when explaining her vote.
Representative Collin supported the bill’s decriminalization elements, arguing Arizona has too many criminal offenses and that civil penalties and other enforcement mechanisms can achieve compliance without excessive incarceration. “We need to decriminalize a lot of things in this state,” Collin said.
The clerk recorded the House vote as 52 ayes, 3 nays and 5 not voting; the bill was passed and the action will be conveyed to the Senate.
