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Arizona driving lesson · Impaired Driving, Points & Penalties

Points & Traffic Survival School

A 3-minute lesson from the Arizona course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Impaired Driving, Points & Penalties
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
5, 62, 63, 64

Every conviction or forfeited bail for a moving violation puts points on your permanent record. Pile up too many and MVD will send you to Traffic Survival School (TSS) — or suspend your license.

Know the rule

Each time you're convicted of, or forfeit bail for, a moving traffic violation, points are assessed against your permanent driving record.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
8+ points in 12 months

Must attend Traffic Survival School, or your driving privilege may be suspended

Handbook p. 62 ↗

8-point violations:

  • DUI
  • Extreme DUI
  • Aggravated DUI
  • Reckless driving
  • Racing on highways
  • Aggressive driving
Handbook p. 63 ↗

Other point values

Other point values
ViolationPoints
Leaving the scene of a crash6
Speeding3
Driving in a gore area3
Wrong-way driving2
All other moving violations2
Handbook p. 63 ↗

Traffic Survival School

A program for drivers with serious violations, accumulated points or at risk of suspension, meant to change risky driving. Schools are licensed by the Arizona Chapter of the NSC.

Handbook p. 5 ↗

MVD may suspend or revoke you, or require TSS, if you:

  • Are convicted of running a red light (or flashing red) — TSS is mandatory plus all court fines
  • Have frequent serious offenses showing disregard for others' safety
  • Are convicted of reckless driving or are a repeat reckless or negligent driver
  • Committed or permitted unlawful or fraudulent use of your license
  • Are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or toxic vapors
  • Have an unresolved judgment from another state
  • Committed an offense requiring mandatory revocation upon conviction
Handbook p. 63 ↗

…or if you:

  • Are under 21 and convicted of receiving, consuming or possessing alcohol
  • Are under 21 and convicted of any illegal drug violation
  • Are medically unsafe to drive
  • Are convicted as a driver in a crash causing death, personal injury or serious property damage
  • Violated a license restriction or failed to comply with an ignition interlock order
  • Are under 18 and convicted of your first moving civil violation or certain criminal traffic offenses
  • Are convicted of wrong-way driving on a controlled-access highway
Handbook p. 64 ↗

Know the rule

Arrest for refusing or failing to complete a chemical test brings a 12-month suspension, or 2 years for a second or subsequent refusal within 7 years.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Know the rule

After a suspension or revocation you must pay the application fee to reinstate, may be investigated, and may have to file an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance.

Handbook p. 64 ↗

Put it into practice

In one year you're convicted of speeding twice (3 + 3) and an unsafe lane change (2). That's 8 points within 12 months, so you must attend Traffic Survival School or risk suspension.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If you accumulate 8 or more points within any 12-month period, what is required?
  1. An automatic 30-day suspension
  2. Traffic Survival School, or possible suspension
  3. Retaking the written test
  4. An automatic 1-year revocation

Answer: Traffic Survival School, or possible suspension

Accumulating 8 or more points within 12 months requires attending Traffic Survival School or risking suspension.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
How many points are assessed for a DUI conviction?
  1. 8 points
  2. 3 points
  3. 6 points
  4. 2 points

Answer: 8 points

DUI, along with Extreme DUI, reckless driving, racing, and aggressive driving, is assessed at 8 points.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
How many points are assessed for leaving the scene of a crash?
  1. 8 points
  2. 3 points
  3. 2 points
  4. 6 points

Answer: 6 points

Leaving the scene of a crash is assessed 6 points, fewer than DUI's 8 points but more than a simple speeding violation.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
How many points are assessed for a basic speeding violation?
  1. 6 points
  2. 1 point
  3. 3 points
  4. 8 points

Answer: 3 points

Speeding is assessed 3 points, the same as driving in a freeway gore area.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
How many points are assessed for wrong-way driving, compared to most other moving violations?
  1. 0 points, it is not a moving violation
  2. 2 points, the same as most other moving violations
  3. 8 points, the same as reckless driving
  4. 6 points, the same as leaving the scene of a crash

Answer: 2 points, the same as most other moving violations

Wrong-way driving is assessed 2 points, the same baseline as 'all other moving violations.'

Handbook p. 63 ↗
A DUI conviction and a routine speeding ticket carry the same number of points.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

DUI carries 8 points, far more than the 3 points assessed for basic speeding.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
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