The 10 Most Common Ways to Get a Suspended License in Arizona
From traffic tickets to failure to pay child support, these are the top 10 reasons your Arizona driver’s license could get suspended.
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger
From traffic tickets to failure to pay child support, there are a number of reasons your Arizona driver’s license could get suspended—and not all of them are related to driving infractions.
Driving on a suspended driver’s license is a serious crime in any state. In Arizona, it’s a Class One misdemeanor that could land both you and your car in the slammer—plus lead to high
car insurance
costs once you’re able to drive again.Getting a new license after yours has been revoked can be quite the ordeal! Here, we’re breaking down the difference between license suspension and revocation, and the types of actions that could lead to either in the state of Arizona.
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What’s the difference between license suspension and license revocation?
Despite often being used interchangeably, there’s actually quite a bit of difference between getting your license suspended and having it revoked.
- A license suspension is a temporary loss of your license for a set period of time.
- A license revocation is a termination of your driving privileges that, unless certain criteria are met, can be permanent.
Having your license reinstated after a suspension period is often as simple as paying a reinstatement fee, but getting a revoked license reinstated is a complicated process that can sometimes take years to complete.
MORE: 9 common reasons your license can be revoked
What can your license be suspended for in Arizona?
The
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)
Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) can suspend your license for a variety of reasons, and is required to do so for some criminal convictions. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the types of actions that can lead to license suspension. Here are the top 10 reasons your license may be suspended or revoked in the Grand Canyon State:1. Failure to pay court fines
If you fail to pay court fines or fees, even if they’re completely unrelated to a traffic violation, you could have your license suspended until those fees have been paid.
2. Failure to appear in traffic court
When you sign a traffic ticket in Arizona, you’re making a promise to appear in court. If you break that promise by not showing up to your court date, your license could be suspended.
3. Running red lights
If law enforcement catches you running a red light in Arizona, you’ll be sent to
Traffic Survival School
—and you’re required to attend following each offense. If you don’t complete your course after any given offense, your license will be suspended until you do. 4. Failing or refusing a chemical test
If a police officer pulls you over—whether on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) or not—and you either fail or refuse to submit to a chemical text, your license could be suspended or revoked. Failing to submit to a urine, blood, or breath test is a violation of Arizona’s implied consent law, and driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher violates
Arizona DUI laws
. Both could result in license suspension or revocation—sometimes for years.5. Accumulating too many points on your license
Like many states, Arizona relies on a points system to keep track of a driver’s moving violations. If you accumulate eight or more
driver’s license points
on your driving record in a 12-month period, your license can be suspended for up to a year. 6. Failure to pay child support
If you have the financial ability to pay child support, and you choose not to,
Arizona’s Department of Economic Security
can have your driver’s license suspended until you do. And that doesn’t just mean you’ll need to start making payments to get your driving privileges reinstated, it means you have to pay what you owe in arrears. 7. Aggressive driving or leaving the scene of an accident
In Arizona, reckless driving can lead to having your license suspended for up to a year, but that’s nothing compared to what happens if you’re caught after a hit-and-run. If you leave the scene of an accident—whether you caused it or not—penalities could include license revocation of up to a decade!
MORE:
Arizona hit and run
8. Committing a felony involving a motor vehicle
If you’re convicted of vehicular homicide, your license will absolutely be revoked, but this isn’t the only felony that can result in license revocation. In Arizona, committing any type of felony in which a motor vehicle is used will result in license revocation.
9. Altering your Arizona driver’s license or having a fake one
If it’s discovered that you’ve altered your Arizona driver’s license in any way, or you’re discovered with a fake one, your license could be suspended.
10. Violating Arizona car insurance laws
Arizona minimum car insurance laws
require drivers to demonstrate financial responsibility by purchasing a car insurance
policy that covers at least:- $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
If
you’re caught driving with no car insurance
, or with a policy that doesn’t provide adequate coverage, your license could be suspended for up to a year. What happens if you’re caught driving on a suspended license in Arizona?
Driving on a suspended license is defined under
ARS 28-3473
of the Arizona Revised Statutes and lists driving with a suspended license as a Class One misdemeanor. That means you’ll be facing criminal charges if you choose to drive on a suspended license in Arizona. While there are no mandatory fines or jail time associated with driving without a license, being convicted of a Class One Misdemeanor carries the potential for:- Up to 180 days in jail
- Up to 3 years probation
- Up to $4,574 in fines and surcharges
Jail time is unlikely the first time you receive a criminal license charge. However, subsequent offenses, a lengthy driving record, or previous convictions, will likely lead to at least some time in jail in addition to thousands of dollars in fines.
MORE: How bad is Phoenix traffic?
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What is the penalty for driving on a suspended license in Arizona?
While there are no mandatory fines or jail time, driving on a suspended license in Arizona is a criminal offense that could land you in jail for up to 6 months.
How long can your license be suspended in Arizona?
The length of your license suspension or revocation depends on the circumstances that led to it, but they will be clearly outlined on the suspension notice you receive from the Arizona MVD. Suspensions could be for a little as 30 days or as long as 10 years, and revocations could result in a permanent loss of driving privileges.
