A Minor Misdemeanor Is A Citation
A.R.S. 13-3903 — release on a notice to appear for a misdemeanor or petty offense, at least five days out
Release. When a person is arrested for a misdemeanor or petty offense, the arresting officer may release the person instead of taking them to a law enforcement facility, or, after taking them there, instead of taking them to a magistrate, by using a written notice to appear and complaint.
The notice. The notice gives the person's name and address, the offense, and the time and place to appear in court, at least five days after the arrest. The person secures release by signing a written promise to appear.
Fingerprints first. For offenses listed in the fingerprint statute, the person is not released this way until providing a fingerprint or two fingerprint biometric identifier.
What happens if the person does not appear, and the offenses themselves, are set out in other sections that are not on this page. Whether an arrest was lawful in a particular case is a question for a licensed Arizona attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- A.R.S. 13-3903 — Notice to appear and complaint
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.