Reading A Search Warrant
A.R.S. 13-3915 — probable cause before a magistrate, and a daytime search unless the warrant says otherwise
A magistrate satisfied that probable cause exists issues a warrant commanding a search of the person or place specified for the items described, each described with reasonable particularity. A magistrate may also authorize an officer by phone to sign the magistrate's name, a duplicate original warrant, or sign a fax of the original.
Daytime, unless the warrant says otherwise. Without a direction in the warrant, made on a showing of good cause, that it may be served at any time, a warrant may be served only in the daytime. Night is the period from ten p.m. to six-thirty a.m.
An officer may break into a building, premises or vehicle to execute the warrant when:
- After notice of the officer's authority and purpose, no response comes within a reasonable time.
- After that notice, the officer is refused admittance.
- A magistrate authorized an unannounced entry, on a showing that announcing would endanger someone or lead to destruction of the items.
- A reasonable officer would believe that giving notice first would endanger someone or result in destruction of evidence.
An officer executing the warrant may seize property not listed if there is reasonable cause to believe it is subject to seizure, and may search a person on the premises or in the vehicle when reasonably necessary for protection from a concealed weapon or when listed items may be concealed on that person.
Sources for this section (3)
- A.R.S. 13-3915 — Issuance; form of warrant; duplicate original warrant
- A.R.S. 13-3916 — Service of warrant; breaking and entering to execute
- A.R.S. 13-3917 — Time of service; exception
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.