Arizona criminal charge
Unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices in Arizona
Unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices is a criminal offense under Arizona law, defined by A.R.S. § 13-3705. Its classification is not fixed: Arizona assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by A.R.S. § 13-3705.
What is the penalty for unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices in Arizona?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (100 or more articles — The violation involves one hundred or more articles containing sound recordings or one hundred or more articles containing audiovisual recordings.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (100 or more articles — The violation involves one hundred or more articles containing sound recordings or one hundred or more articles containing audiovisual recordings.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 18 months (10 to 99 articles — The violation involves ten or more but less than one hundred articles containing sound recordings or ten or more but less than one hundred articles containing audiovisual recordings.; presumptive 1 year; mitigated .33 years / aggravated 2 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges; a class 6 felony may be designated a class 1 misdemeanor under 13-604) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (10 to 99 articles — The violation involves ten or more but less than one hundred articles containing sound recordings or ten or more but less than one hundred articles containing audiovisual recordings.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Fewer than 10 articles — The violation involves less than ten articles containing sound recordings or less than ten articles containing audiovisual recordings.; definite term served outside state prison (13-707(A)(1)); prior same offense within 2 years elevates to the next higher class (13-707(B))) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-707 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Fewer than 10 articles — The violation involves less than ten articles containing sound recordings or less than ten articles containing audiovisual recordings.; 13-802(A)) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-707 |
Applies to first felony offense, non-dangerous; presumptive term 3.5 years.
How is unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices classified in Arizona?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 or more articles | Class 3 Felony | The violation involves one hundred or more articles containing sound recordings or one hundred or more articles containing audiovisual recordings. | A.R.S. § 13-3705H |
| 10 to 99 articles | Class 6 Felony | The violation involves ten or more but less than one hundred articles containing sound recordings or ten or more but less than one hundred articles containing audiovisual recordings. | A.R.S. § 13-3705H |
| Fewer than 10 articles | Class 1 Misdemeanor | The violation involves less than ten articles containing sound recordings or less than ten articles containing audiovisual recordings. | A.R.S. § 13-3705H |
Common questions about unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices in Arizona
Is unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 3 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-3705.
100 or more articles: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3705H) · 10 to 99 articles: Class 6 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3705H) · Fewer than 10 articles: Class 1 Misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-3705H)
What are the penalties for unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices in Arizona?
Penalties for unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices in Arizona depend on how it is classified — from a Class 1 Misdemeanor up to a Class 3 Felony — with the ranges set by A.R.S. § 13-702 and A.R.S. § 13-707; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Arizona statute covers unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices?
Unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices is governed by A.R.S. § 13-3705 (Unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices; true name and address of articles; definitions; classification).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.