2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §13-3903  Notice to appear and complaint

A. In any case in which a person is arrested for an offense that is a misdemeanor or a petty offense, the arresting officer may release the arrested person from custody in lieu of taking such person to the police station by use of the procedure prescribed in this section.

B. At any time after taking a person arrested for an offense that is a misdemeanor or a petty offense to the police station, the arresting officer may, instead of taking such person to a magistrate, release such person from further custody by use of the procedure prescribed in this section.

C. In any case in which a person is arrested for an offense that is a misdemeanor or a petty offense, the arresting officer may prepare in quadruplicate a written notice to appear and complaint, containing the name and address of such person, the offense charged, and the time and place where and when such person shall appear in court, provided:

1. The time specified in the notice to appear is at least five days after arrest.

2. The place specified in the notice shall be the court specified in section 13-3898.

3. The arrested person, in order to secure release as provided in this section, shall give his written promise so to appear in court by signing at least one copy of the written notice and complaint prepared by the arresting officer. The officer shall deliver a copy of the notice and complaint to the person promising to appear. Thereupon, the officer shall forthwith release the person arrested from custody.

4. The officer shall, as soon as practical, deliver the original notice and complaint to the magistrate specified therein. Thereupon, the magistrate shall promptly file the notice and complaint and enter it into the docket of the court.

D. The Arizona traffic ticket and complaint may be utilized not only for the purposes provided in the Arizona supreme court rule, but to satisfy the requirements of this section.

E. When a person has given his written promise to appear in court upon a designated date pursuant to this section, and thereafter fails to appear, personally or by counsel, on or before that date, the magistrate shall file a complaint, in writing, under oath, setting forth the offense of wilfully violating a written promise to appear in court in accordance with section 13-3904, and shall issue a warrant of arrest thereon. Upon such person's appearance in court for arraignment on the charge of violating section 13-3904, such magistrate shall also arraign such person on the charge stated in the notice to appear and complaint for which such person had previously promised to appear.

F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect a peace officer's authority to conduct an otherwise lawful search incident to his arrest even though such arrested person is released before being taken to the police station or before a magistrate pursuant to this section.

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