Every time someone is convicted of a traffic violation in Arizona, the MVD (Motor Vehicle Division) assesses points against their permanent driving record. Depending on the violation, the offender receives a certain number of driving record points, which range from 2 points to 8 points; 2 points for the less serious traffic violations, and 8 points for serious crimes and traffic violations.
When the person receives a certain number of points on their driver’s license, they may face license suspension or revocation. A traffic violation will also lead to higher insurance rates. The state of Arizona employs a driver improvement program which can possibly help negate the citation points or dismiss the ticket altogether. However, the best strategy is to avoid getting a traffic ticket in the first place.
Classification Of Arizona Traffic Tickets
The traffic tickets in Arizona are divided into two main categories:
- Civil
- Criminal
The civil citations are the less serious offenses and include minor moving violations. They also carry lower driving record points.
The criminal violations are the more serious ones and they are further divided into 2 categories:
- Misdemeanors
- Felonies
Reckless driving and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) are considered misdemeanor violations.
The more serious traffic crimes, like evading the police, and DUI-related traffic accidents involving injury or death, fall under felonies.
Points Associated With Each Traffic Violation
The associated points for each traffic violation are listed below, for both civil and criminal violations, starting from the more serious ones.
| Extreme DUI (Driving with a BAC of 0.15% or more) | 8 points |
| DUI (Driving with a BAC of 0.08% or more) | 8 points |
| Aggressive driving | 8 points |
| Reckless driving | 8 points |
| Running a traffic signal or stop sign, with accident causing death | 6 points |
| Hit-and-run / Leaving the scene of an accident | 6 points |
| Running a traffic signal or stop sign, with accident causing serious injury | 4 points |
| Failure to yield the right of way | 4 points |
| Speeding | 3 points |
| Driving or parking in a gore zone | 3 points |
| Following too closely | 2 points |
| All other traffic violations | 2 points |
License Suspension
Any driver who continues to violate the traffic laws in Arizona will have their license suspended if they rack up 8 points in a 12 month period. 8 points on the driver’s record has a license suspension of 1 year. In most criminal violations, the driver’s license is suspended immediately and they may face additional fines and penalties.
Removing Points From Your Record
An offender may be given the option to complete a defensive driving course and have the points removed from their record. These courses are approved by the Arizona Supreme Court and will prevent any citation points from being assessed to your driving record.
Reinstating your License
For minor violations, the offender may have the option to have their license reinstated by completing a process online using a credit card.
However, if the license has been suspended, the offender will have to apply to have their license reinstated first in order to clear the suspension. For this, they will need to gather the appropriate paperwork, pay a series of fees, and may even be required to take a few tests.
If you are facing a traffic violation in Arizona, it is important to get in touch with an experienced DUI defense attorney right away. Call the law offices of Attorney Brian D. Sloan at 480-900-0384 or 602-900-0384 for a Free Initial Consultation.
