Dealing with a traffic ticket in Arizona can be stressful, but attending a defensive driving class offers a valuable opportunity to have the violation dismissed and keep points off your driving record. Conveniently, you can now complete your Defensive Driving Class Online, making it easier than ever to fulfill court requirements from the comfort of your home. This guide will walk you through the requirements for taking a defensive driving course in Arizona and how to find and enroll in an online class.
To determine if you are eligible for defensive driving in Arizona, you can start by checking your eligibility through a state-approved defensive driving school. Schools will typically conduct a court database check upon registration to confirm your eligibility.
Requirements for Taking a Defensive Driving Course in Arizona
Before you search for a defensive driving class online, it’s crucial to ensure you meet the specific requirements set by the Arizona courts. Please review the following criteria carefully to determine your eligibility:
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Past Attendance: You are eligible if you have not attended a defensive driving course for a previous traffic violation within the last 12 months from the date of your current violation. Eligibility is based on the violation date, not the course completion date. This is a key point to remember when considering taking a defensive driving course.
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Eligible Violation: Your current traffic violation must be on the list of eligible violations as determined by the Arizona Supreme Court. Certain serious violations may disqualify you from attending defensive driving school.
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Violation Dismissal: Defensive driving in Arizona allows you to have only one violation dismissed. If you have multiple violations, only one can be addressed through a defensive driving course.
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Serious Accidents: If your violation was connected to a serious injury accident or a fatal accident, you are not eligible to attend defensive driving school. These cases often involve more severe legal consequences.
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Commercial Driver License (CDL) Holders: Even if you hold a commercial driver license, you may still be eligible for the defensive driving program under specific conditions, effective September 1, 2019:
- You must have been driving a vehicle that requires a Class D or Class M license (standard non-commercial licenses).
- The vehicle must not have been used for commercial purposes at the time of the violation.
- You must meet all other standard defensive driving eligibility requirements for non-commercial driver license holders. This expansion makes defensive driving accessible to more CDL holders in Arizona.
Upon successful completion of an Arizona-certified defensive driving program, the court will notify the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Importantly, while the record of judgment is forwarded, no points are assessed to your driving record, helping you avoid potential insurance increases and license suspension issues.
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Course Completion Deadline: You must complete your defensive driving course no later than 7 days before your scheduled court date. Timely completion is essential to ensure the dismissal of your ticket.
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Course Format: Arizona allows you to take the class either in person or online. The flexibility of choosing an online defensive driving class is particularly beneficial for those with busy schedules. However, if a judge specifically orders you to attend an in-person classroom course, you must comply with that requirement.
Find a Defensive Driving Class
Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, you can proceed to find a defensive driving class online that fits your needs. Many Arizona-certified defensive driving schools offer online courses, providing a convenient and accessible way to complete your requirement.
To begin your search, you will typically need to enter the date of your citation in the format MM/DD/YYYY. Ensure you use slashes as separators to avoid any error messages during your search. From there, you can explore the available online defensive driving classes and choose a program that works best for you.
