ARS 28-1387: Prior convictions
The complete text of A.R.S. § 28-1387 on prior convictions, and how this section is used in Arizona criminal cases. It defines terms and procedure rather than creating an offense.
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Full Text of A.R.S. § 28-1387
A.R.S. § 28-1387 is the Arizona statute on prior convictions. It sets out procedure and rules rather than defining an offense, so no offense class or sentence attaches to this section on its own.
A. The court shall allow the allegation of a prior conviction or any other pending charge of a violation of section 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 or an act in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 filed twenty or more days before the date the case is actually tried and may allow the allegation of a prior conviction or any other pending charge of a violation of section 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 or an act in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 filed at any time before the date the case is actually tried if this state makes available to the defendant when the allegation is filed a copy of any information obtained concerning the prior conviction or other pending charge. Any conviction may be used to enhance another conviction irrespective of the dates on which the offenses occurred within the eighty-four month provision. For the purposes of this article, an order of a juvenile court adjudicating a person delinquent is equivalent to a conviction.
B. In addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, the judge shall order a person who is convicted of a violation of section 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 to complete alcohol or other drug screening that is provided by a facility approved by the department of health services, the United States department of veterans affairs or a probation department. If a judge determines that the person requires further alcohol or other drug education or treatment, the person may be required pursuant to court order to obtain alcohol or other drug education or treatment under the court’s supervision from an approved facility. The judge may review an education or treatment determination at the request of the state, the defendant or the probation officer or on the judge’s initiative. The person shall pay the costs of the screening, education or treatment unless, after considering the person’s ability to pay all or part of the costs, the court waives all or part of the costs. If a person is referred to a screening, education or treatment facility, the facility shall report to the court whether the person has successfully completed the screening, education or treatment program. The court may accept evidence of a person’s completion of alcohol or other drug screening pursuant to section 28-1445 as sufficient to meet the requirements of this section or section 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 or may order the person to complete additional alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment programs. If a person has previously been ordered to complete an alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment program pursuant to this section, the judge shall order the person to complete an alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment program unless the court determines that alternative sanctions are more appropriate.
C. After a person who is sentenced pursuant to section 28-1381, subsection I has served twenty-four consecutive hours in jail or after a person who is sentenced pursuant to section 28-1381, subsection K or section 28-1382, subsection D or E has served forty-eight consecutive hours in jail and after the court receives confirmation that the person is employed or is a student, the court shall provide in the sentence that the defendant, if the defendant is employed or is a student and can continue the defendant’s employment or schooling, may continue the employment or schooling for not more than twelve hours a day nor more than six days a week, unless the court finds good cause to not allow the release and places those findings on the record. The person shall spend the remaining day, days or parts of days in jail until the sentence is served and shall be allowed out of jail only long enough to complete the actual hours of employment or schooling.
D. Unless the license of a person convicted under section 28-1381 or 28-1382 has been or is suspended pursuant to section 28-1321 or 28-1385, the department on receipt of the abstract of conviction of a violation of section 28-1381 or 28-1382 shall suspend the license of the affected person for not less than ninety consecutive days.
E. When the department receives notification that the person meets the criteria provided in section 28-1385, subsection I, the department shall suspend the driving privileges of the person for not less than thirty consecutive days and shall restrict the person’s driving privileges as described in section 28-144 for not less than sixty consecutive additional days.
F. If a person is placed on probation for violating section 28-1381 or 28-1382, the probation shall be supervised unless the court finds that supervised probation is not necessary or the court does not have supervisory probation services.
G. Any political subdivision processing or using the services of a person ordered to perform community restitution pursuant to section 28-1381 or 28-1382 does not incur any civil liability to the person ordered to perform community restitution as a result of these activities unless the political subdivision or its agent or employee acts with gross negligence.
H. The court may order alternative sanctions to community restitution that is ordered pursuant to section 28-1381, subsection K or section 28-1382, subsection E if the court determines that education, treatment or other alternative sanctions are more appropriate.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-1387, 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.
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- How Much Jail Time for a Second DUI in Arizona? ARS 28-1381
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Related Statutes in Title 28 — DUI and Implied Consent
- A.R.S. § 28-1388 — Blood and breath tests
- A.R.S. § 28-1383 — Aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence
- A.R.S. § 28-1382 — Driving or actual physical control while under the extreme influence of intoxicating liquor
- A.R.S. § 28-1381 — Driving or actual physical control while under the influence
How § 28-1387 Affects an Arizona Case
§ 28-1387 usually matters because of how it interacts with the charge someone is actually facing. We read it alongside the charging statute, because a definition or a procedural rule frequently decides what the State must prove, what a judge may impose, or what relief is available afterward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 28-1387?
A.R.S. § 28-1387 is the Arizona statute on prior convictions. It sets out rules that apply across Arizona criminal cases rather than defining a single offense.
Where can I read the official text of § 28-1387?
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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