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About the Defensive Driving Program
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Safe driving is no accident
The Supreme Court's Defensive Driving Program oversees the program, publicizes the rules governing the program, and certifies the schools and instructors that present the classes.
The goals of the Defensive Driving Program are to educate drivers and to divert civil traffic cases from the court system, while still providing a sanction, or penalty, for violating traffic laws. Our program is authorized by Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-3391 through 3399.
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General Information
If you received a civil traffic moving violation, you may be eligible to take a defensive driving class and have the violation dismissed. If you choose this option, and are eligible, the violation will not be included on your driving record and no points will be assessed to you for the violation. If you have received an Arizona Department of Public Safety photo enforcement “notice of violation,” the ticket cannot be dismissed by attending a defensive driving school.
A civil traffic moving violation is a traffic violation that results from the operation (or movement) of a vehicle, such as speeding, failure to yield, unsafe lane changes, etc. Arizona law provides that major violations like DUI, reckless driving, or other criminal violations are not eligible for defensive driving class, nor are citations that are issued to you as a result of a collision that seriously injured or killed any person. Your citation has a check box by each violation that indicates whether it is criminal or civil. One criminal violation is eligible IF the judge presiding at the court of jurisdiction allows; this violation is Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-701.02 and its subsections (criminal speeding).
Information on defensive driving eligible violations is normally included with your citation. If you chose to attend a defensive driving school and are eligible, information can be found at.
- azdrive.com
- (888) 334-5565
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Commercial Driver License Eligibility
Arizona Revised Statutes
ACJA 7-201
ACJA 7-205