ARS 28-1462: Ignition Interlock Device Certification
The complete text of A.R.S. § 28-1462 on ignition interlock device certification, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 1 misdemeanor and exposure reaching up to 6 months in jail.
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What the State Must Prove Under § 28-1462
A.R.S. § 28-1462 is the Arizona statute on ignition interlock device certification. The statute sets out 4 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 1 misdemeanor, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 6 months in jail.
A. After consulting with the director of the department of public safety, the assistant director for the motor vehicle division of the department of transportation shall:
- Certify ignition interlock devices.
- Publish a list of certified ignition interlock devices that includes information about the manufacturers of the devices and where the devices may be ordered.
- Make the list available to the courts and probation departments without charge.
- Establish standards and qualifications for technicians.
The State must prove every element of the paragraph it actually charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. Which paragraph appears on the complaint decides what the case is about, and it is the first thing to check.
Penalties for a § 28-1462 Conviction
| Class | Maximum jail | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 misdemeanor | 6 months | $2,500 |
Felony ranges are set by A.R.S. § 13-702(D) and apply to a first felony conviction that is not dangerous and not repetitive. A dangerous offense (§ 13-704), a repetitive offense (§ 13-703) or a dangerous crime against children (§ 13-705) carries a longer range, and some carry mandatory prison with no probation. Misdemeanor maximums come from §§ 13-707 and 13-802; surcharges are added on top of every fine.
Full Text of A.R.S. § 28-1462
A. After consulting with the director of the department of public safety, the assistant director for the motor vehicle division of the department of transportation shall:
1. Certify ignition interlock devices.
2. Publish a list of certified ignition interlock devices that includes information about the manufacturers of the devices and where the devices may be ordered.
3. Make the list available to the courts and probation departments without charge.
4. Establish standards and qualifications for technicians.
B. The assistant director shall adopt rules prescribing the requirements for certification and decertification of an ignition interlock device. These rules shall include:
1. The procedure for certification of ignition interlock devices.
2. Provisions to ensure the reliability of the ignition interlock device over the range of motor vehicle environments.
3. Provisions to ensure that the ignition interlock device works accurately in an unsupervised environment.
4. The procedure for decertification of an ignition interlock device for cause.
C. The assistant director shall not certify an ignition interlock device unless all of the following are satisfied:
1. The device requires a deep-lung breath sample or another accurate measure of the concentration by weight of alcohol in the breath.
2. The device is made by a manufacturer that is covered by product liability insurance in the amount of one million dollars per event and three million dollars in the aggregate.
3. The manufacturer of the device indemnifies this state against any liability that may result from the use of the device.
4. The device meets or exceeds the 2013 national highway traffic safety administration standards, including the ability to wirelessly transmit and receive information, take a digital image and include the global positioning system location of the device at the time of a requested test.
5. The device is repaired or modified only by the manufacturer of the device.
6. All of the device reporting that is required by sections 28-1461 and 28-1468 originates from the device manufacturer.
D. The assistant director may adopt, in whole or in part, the guidelines, rules, regulations, studies or independent laboratory tests performed and relied on by other states or agencies or commissions of other states in the certification or approval of ignition interlock devices.
E. Each ignition interlock service provider who installs a certified ignition interlock device shall submit to the department a bond in a form to be approved by the assistant director and in an amount of at least two hundred thousand dollars. The bond inures to the benefit of any person who is ordered or required to equip a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device pursuant to article 3 of this chapter or section 28-3319 and who suffers a loss because of either of the following:
1. Insolvency or discontinuance of business of the ignition interlock service provider who installed the device.
2. Failure of the ignition interlock service provider or agent or subcontractor of the ignition interlock service provider to comply with any provision of a contract that is required pursuant to section 28-1468 or any rule adopted pursuant to this section.
F. The assistant director shall adopt a warning label design to be affixed to each certified ignition interlock device on installation. The label shall contain a warning that a person tampering with, circumventing or otherwise misusing the ignition interlock device is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
G. After consultation with the director of the department of public safety, the assistant director may include information the assistant director deems necessary in the notice prescribed in section 28-3318 regarding certified ignition interlock devices.
H. An ignition interlock service provider shall collect a fee for each certified ignition interlock device that is installed by the provider in an amount that is determined by the director. The ignition interlock service provider shall remit the collected fees to the department on a monthly basis and in a manner established by the department. The department shall deposit the fees in the ignition interlock device fund established by section 28-1469.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-1462, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/20/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.
Related Statutes in Title 28 — DUI: Screening, Interlock, Costs
How Tamou Law Group Defends § 28-1462 Cases
A § 28-1462 case is decided by the paragraph the State charged, not by the statute as a whole. We start with the charging document and the disclosure, identify which subsection the prosecutor has to prove, and test whether the evidence actually reaches every element of it. Where the class turns on a fact such as value, an alleged injury, a prior conviction or the identity of the person involved, that fact is frequently the difference between a class 1 misdemeanor and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.
We handle ignition interlock device certification cases across Maricopa County and statewide, from our Scottsdale and Phoenix offices. Call 623-321-4699 any time, or read the statute in full above before you speak to anyone about the case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 28-1462?
A.R.S. § 28-1462 is the Arizona statute on ignition interlock device certification. A violation is a class 1 misdemeanor, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.
Is a violation of § 28-1462 a felony in Arizona?
No. Under the statute a violation is a class 1 misdemeanor, so the exposure reaches up to 6 months in jail. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.
What is the maximum penalty for a class 1 misdemeanor?
A.R.S. 13-707 caps jail at 6 months for a class 1 misdemeanor and A.R.S. 13-802 caps the fine at $2,500, before surcharges. A judge may also impose probation and other conditions.
Where can I read the official text of § 28-1462?
The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/20/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.
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