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Arizona statute

A.R.S. § 13-3702 — Defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns; classification

Current through 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Part of Chapter 37: Miscellaneous Offenses, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of A.R.S. § 13-3702

Statutory text current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text published by the Arizona Legislature (Arizona Legislative Council compilation, azleg.gov); it is not the official statutes of the State of Arizona.

A.R.S. § 13-3702Primary source, current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)
A. A person commits defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns if such person knowingly, without the prior written permission of the owner: 1. Breaks, breaks off, cracks, carves upon, writes or otherwise marks upon or in any manner destroys, mutilates, injures, defaces, removes, displaces, mars or harms petroglyphs, pictographs or any natural material found in any cave or cavern; or 2. Kills, harms or disturbs plant or animal life found in any cave or cavern, except for safety reasons; or 3. Disturbs or alters the natural condition of such petroglyph, pictograph, cave or cavern or takes into a cave or cavern any aerosol or other type of container containing paints, dyes or other coloring agents; or 4. Breaks, forces, tampers with, removes or otherwise disturbs a lock, gate, door or other structure or obstruction designed to prevent entrance to a cave or cavern whether or not entrance is gained. B. As used in this section, "natural material" means stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, anthodites, gypsum flowers or needles, flowstone, draperies, columns, tufa dams, clay or mud formations or concretions or other similar crystalline mineral formations found in any cave or cavern. C. Defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?

Defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns is a Class 2 Misdemeanor in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-3702.

Which Arizona statute covers defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns?

Defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns is governed by A.R.S. § 13-3702 (Defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns; classification).

Is excavating certain sites a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?

It depends on the circumstances: excavating certain sites ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 3 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-3702.01.

Excavating without permit — first violation: Class 5 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3702.01A) · Excavating without permit — second or subsequent violation: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3702.01A) · Collecting archaeological specimen unlawfully: Class 1 Misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-3702.01B)

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.