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SB 1652

technical correction; overtaking bicycles

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Mark Finchem

Motorists must give at least three feet when passing a bicycle in the same direction, with civil penalties up to $500 for injuries and $1,000 for deaths caused by violations.

Senate First Reading
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1652

Overview

SB 1652 (Session 57th-2nd-regular, Arizona) is a technical correction bill focused on clarifying and codifying requirements for motorists overtaking bicycles and establishing civil penalties for violations that result in injury or death. The bill amends Section 28-735 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

Purpose and Intent

  • Ensure motorists exercise safe passing when overtaking bicycles traveling in the same direction.
  • Establish civil penalties for violations that cause serious injury or death.
  • Clarify a specific exception related to cyclists injured in lanes with an available and passable designated bicycle lane or path.

Key Provisions

  • Overtaking and Passing Standard

    • A motor vehicle driver must exercise due care and maintain a safe distance of at least three feet from a bicycle when passing them in the same direction, continuing until the motor vehicle is safely past the bicycle.

  • Civil Penalties for Harm Caused by Violations

    • If a violation results in a collision that causes serious physical injury to another person, the violator faces a civil penalty of up to $500.
    • If a violation results in a collision that causes the death of another person, the violator faces a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

  • Exception/Clarification

    • The civil penalty provisions do not apply if a bicyclist is injured in a vehicular traffic lane when a designated bicycle lane or path is present and passable. This appears to limit or exclude penalties in certain lane situations where a bicycle lane/path exists and is usable.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Motorists: Subject to the three-foot passing rule; potential civil penalties for resulting injuries or fatalities.
  • Bicyclists: Beneficiaries of clarified passing requirements and potential safety protections in designated bike lanes/paths.
  • General public: Indirectly affected through enhanced roadway safety standards and associated penalties.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Action History: Senate First Reading as of June 12, 2026.
  • Sponsor: Co-sponsor Mark Finchem.
  • No specific effective date or implementation timeline provided in the text available; typical enactment would follow passage and signing, with any effective date determined by the final bill language.

Notes and Considerations

  • The civil penalties specified ($500, $1,000) are stated as civil penalties, not criminal penalties; they function as monetary penalties assessed for violations resulting in injury or death.
  • The “technical correction” designation suggests the bill is intended to clarify existing law or address ambiguities; the exact language includes an exception related to designated bicycle lanes/paths, which could affect enforcement in certain lane configurations.
  • Readers should consult the final enacted text for any amendments or clarifications to definitions (e.g., “adequate safe distance,” “serious physical injury,” and the precise scope of the exception).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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