Missed Court in Arizona: What Happens Next

What Arizona law says can follow a missed court date: whether it is a separate crime, the driver’s license rule for traffic cases, what happens to bail, and the court’s own next steps. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

What kind of case was the court date for?
How was the person released before the date?

Pick the state, the kind of case and how the person was released to see what that state’s law says.

Arizona failure to appear law

In Arizona, missing a required court date after release can be charged as its own crime. The statute grades it by the kind of case:

  • Released on a felony charge: class 5 felony. Knowingly failing to appear as required in connection with any felony is failure to appear in the first degree, a class 5 felony. (A.R.S. § 13-2507)
    A person commits failure to appear in the first degree if, having been required by law to appear in connection with any felony, such person knowingly fails to appear as required, regardless of the disposition of the charge requiring the appearance. B. Failure to appear in the first degree is a class 5 felony.
  • Released on a misdemeanor charge: class 1 misdemeanor. Knowingly failing to appear as required on a misdemeanor or petty offense (subsection A, paragraph 1) is failure to appear in the second degree, a class 1 misdemeanor. (A.R.S. § 13-2506)
    Failure to appear in the second degree pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.
  • Summons or citation: class 2 misdemeanor. Failing to appear after a written promise or notice to appear (subsection A, paragraph 2) is failure to appear in the second degree, a class 2 misdemeanor. (A.R.S. § 13-2506)
    Failure to appear in the second degree pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section is a class 2 misdemeanor.

The statute’s mental-state words are “knowingly”, so the reason the date was missed can matter.

When a date is missed, the court’s order is called a bench warrant (Arizona Judicial Branch, Self-Service Center: Warrants).

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in Arizona

On a criminal traffic charge under the motor vehicle title (Title 28), ADOT must suspend the license after a missed court date until the person appears. On a civil traffic ticket, a missed date means the allegations are deemed admitted and the court enters judgment, imposes a civil penalty and reports the judgment to ADOT. (A.R.S. § 28-3308)

On notification by the court that a person failed to appear as directed for a scheduled court appearance after service of a criminal complaint alleging a violation of a provision of this title, the department shall suspend the person's driver license or nonresident operating privilege until the person appears.

Bail and bonds after a missed date in Arizona

If a defendant admitted to bail fails to appear, the court by order declares the bond forfeited. (A.R.S. § 13-3858)

To compare what posting bail costs in Arizona, see the Arizona bail bond calculator.

How to deal with a missed date in Arizona

Only the court that set the date can recall a warrant or give a new date. Contact that court’s clerk, or the lawyer or public defender on the case, who can ask the court to recall or quash the warrant.

What this page does not do

  • It does not check whether a warrant was issued in any case or whether anyone will be arrested.
  • Whether a separate failure-to-appear charge is filed is the prosecutor’s decision; what happens to bail is the court’s.
  • It collects nothing; your choices stay in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is failure to appear a crime in Arizona?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: class 5 felony under A.R.S. § 13-2507; Released on a misdemeanor charge: class 1 misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-2506; Summons or citation: class 2 misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-2506.

Is missing court a felony in Arizona?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: class 5 felony under A.R.S. § 13-2507. Otherwise: released on a misdemeanor charge: class 1 misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-2506; summons or citation: class 2 misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-2506.

Will Arizona suspend my license for missing a traffic court date?

On a criminal traffic charge under the motor vehicle title (Title 28), ADOT must suspend the license after a missed court date until the person appears. On a civil traffic ticket, a missed date means the allegations are deemed admitted and the court enters judgment, imposes a civil penalty and reports the judgment to ADOT. The rule is in A.R.S. § 28-3308.

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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