If you are stopped by a police officer in Arizona and you are given a citation for a moving violation, the officer will let you know that you may be able to have the violation removed from your driving record (diverted) provided that you haven't attended Defensive Driving School in the past two years, and assuming that no one was killed or seriously injured in the incident that caused the citation to be issued.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: One Day
Here's How:
- Arizona's Defensive Driving Program is administered by the Arizona Supreme Court.
- Attending a defensive driving class is voluntary. You don't have to do it. If you are eligible, though, and complete the course, it will be as if you never received the ticket--no points on your license, no increase in your insurance rates.
- When you are issued the traffic citation by the police officer, a code for the violation will be noted. You may attend Defensive Driving School to divert the citation if your violation code is listed here.
- If you have a commercial driver license, you are not eligible to attend Defensive Driving School to have your ticket diverted, even though you may be ordered to take the class by the court. This is true even if you were driving your personal, non-commercial vehicle at the time that the citation was given.
- There are Defensive Driving Schools in every county of Arizona. All of the schools that are certified by the State of Arizona are listed at their web site. You must attend one of these schools in order to have your ticket 'erased'.
- You must call the individual school to register for the class. Make sure you register right away--the classes fill up and you must attend a class by the date indicated on your citation.
- The total cost to attend Defensive Driving School is the total of three amounts: (1) the court fee; (2) the Arizona State fee; and (3) a school fee. You can get an estimate of the fees involved here.
- When you call the Defensive Driving School to register, verify how they will accept payment. Most schools will not accept credit cards or personal checks.
- Traffic Survival School is not the same as Defensive Driving School. The court may order you to attend Traffic Survival School if:
-you've received 8 - 12 points on your license within a year and you haven't been to Traffic Survival School in the past 2 years
-you are convicted of aggressive driving, or a moving violation resulting in someone's serious physical injury or death
-you receive more than 1 moving violation and you are under 18 years of age
-you are convicted of red light running - In some cases, you may be able to attend an online Internet Defensive Driving School, but the requirements are very stringent, and you must take a test (in person) after completion of the course to verify that you were the person who actually took the class. Check here to read the regulations regarding online Defensive Driving Classes.
- If you have other questions about Defensive Driving Schools or Traffic Survival School, contact the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program at (602) 364-0388.
Tips:
- Some of the defensive driving schools offer classes on weekends, evenings, and in Spanish.
- Few people want to attend Defensive Driving School, but the sooner you get over being annoyed about it, the better. If your teacher is good, it might actually be interesting.
- Don't assume you'll be able to read, nap, or do anything else when the class is going on--the school will not allow it.
- Don't assume you can come late or leave early. You can't.
- The best way to get through the day is to have a good attitude, and even participate. The time will go by much faster that way!
What You Need:
- Copy of your citation
- Cashier's Check or Money Order for cost of class
- Your driver license
- Any court paperwork
- A pen and note paper
- Water and a snack
