Resisting And Fleeing
A.R.S. 13-2508 — force or risk of injury is a felony, passive resistance a misdemeanor
Resisting arrest in Arizona is intentionally preventing, or trying to prevent, a person reasonably known to be a peace officer acting under official authority from making an arrest, by one of three means.
| The means | Class |
|---|---|
| The meansUsing or threatening physical force against the officer or another | ClassClass 6 felony |
| The meansAny other means creating a substantial risk of physical injury to the officer or another | ClassClass 6 felony |
| The meansPassive resistance | ClassClass 1 misdemeanor |
Passive resistance means a nonviolent physical act or failure to act that is intended to impede, hinder or delay the arrest.
Fleeing a police vehicle is a felony. A driver who wilfully flees or tries to elude a pursuing official law enforcement vehicle commits a class 5 felony when the vehicle is appropriately marked and operated as the section requires, or is unmarked and the driver admits or the evidence shows the driver knew it was law enforcement.
Sources for this section (2)
- A.R.S. 13-2508 — Resisting arrest; classification; definition
- A.R.S. 28-622.01 — Unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement vehicle
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.