What Happens to Your License When You Get a DUI

Driving under the influence carries serious consequences in Glendale and throughout Arizona. Beyond criminal penalties, many drivers face immediate concerns about their ability to continue driving legally. Understanding what happens to your license when you get a DUI helps you prepare for the administrative and legal challenges ahead. The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) handles license suspensions separately from criminal court proceedings, creating a dual-track system many drivers find confusing. At The Law Offices of John Phebus, we guide Glendale residents through both processes to protect their driving privileges and legal rights.

What Happens During a DUI Stop?

Officers observe driving patterns before initiating a traffic stop. Weaving between lanes, failing to maintain speed, or ignoring traffic signals often prompts law enforcement to pull over a vehicle. Once stopped, the officer evaluates your behavior, speech, and physical coordination. If they suspect DUI, the police officer’s assessment will likely include questions about your activities, where you traveled, and whether you consumed alcohol or drugs.

Field sobriety tests may follow if the officer suspects impairment. These standardized exercises evaluate balance, coordination, and your ability to follow instructions. Officers also request a preliminary breath test at the roadside to measure blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Arizona’s Implied Consent Law requires drivers to submit to chemical testing when arrested for DUI. This statute applies to breath, blood, or urine tests administered by law enforcement. Refusing these tests triggers an automatic 12-month license suspension through the MVD, separate from any criminal penalties. The law enforcement officer designates which test you must take, and refusal prevents the test from being administered unless officers obtain a search warrant. While you do have the right to refuse, understanding the consequences of refusal is imperative.

After the Arrest

Probable cause leads to arrest. Officers make this determination based on test results, observed behavior, and field sobriety performance. Once arrested, you face booking at a police station, which includes recording personal information, fingerprints, and photographs.

Arizona law provides a 15-day grace period following your arrest. Requesting an MVD hearing within this window preserves your right to contest the administrative license suspension. Missing this deadline eliminates your opportunity to challenge the suspension.

Court proceedings typically begin with an arraignment, where charges are formally presented. Pretrial conferences allow your attorney to negotiate with prosecutors, though some cases proceed to trial.

First-time DUI convictions carry a minimum one-day jail sentence, though courts may suspend this if you complete alcohol screening and treatment programs. Mandatory DUI classes, substantial fines, and license suspension accompany most convictions.

Aggravated DUI charges may involve causing serious injuries, driving with a suspended license, or driving with children under 15. These all become felonies carrying mandatory prison time and extended suspensions if conviction results.

Can I Drive After My DUI Arrest?

Drivers may continue driving for 15 days after a Glendale DUI arrest. Your physical license remains valid during these 15 days, allowing you to drive to work, medical appointments, and handle daily responsibilities. Failing to request an MVD hearing means your driving privileges end on the 16th day after arrest.

Requesting the administrative hearing preserves your right to challenge the suspension based on the circumstances of your stop and arrest. The MVD reviews whether officers followed proper procedures, whether reasonable grounds existed for the stop, and whether you refused testing or failed chemical tests.

As the Arizona Department of Transportation asserts, some drivers qualify for a Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Driver License (SIIRDL) after their license suspension begins. This restricted license permits limited driving with an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle, which requires a breath sample before starting the engine. Glendale residents working in Peoria, Surprise, or other nearby cities often pursue this option to maintain employment.

Drivers who refuse chemical testing face automatic 12-month suspensions, with no option for a restricted license. Multiple DUI offenses within a short timeframe also limit eligibility for a restricted license.

How Long Will My License Be Suspended?

Suspension length depends on your offense history and specific circumstances. First-time DUI offenders in Glendale face suspensions ranging from 90 days to one year. Duration depends on factors like blood alcohol concentration levels, property damage or injuries caused, and cooperation during arrest.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety documents suspension periods, noting that second DUI convictions within seven years trigger mandatory one-year license suspensions. Third offenses also carry one-year suspensions, although courts may impose longer periods based on case specifics.

Drivers who refuse chemical testing face an automatic 12-month suspension. This administrative penalty applies regardless of whether criminal DUI charges result in conviction, and no restricted license option exists in these cases.

Aggravated DUI convictions significantly extend license suspension periods. Felony DUI charges involving serious injuries, multiple prior offenses, or driving with a suspended license can result in three-year suspensions or longer.

Understanding what happens to your license when you get a DUI includes recognizing administrative and criminal suspensions typically run concurrently rather than consecutively.

My License Has Been Suspended, Now What?

Reinstatement requires completing multiple steps and paying various fees. Begin by serving the full suspension period imposed by the MVD or court. No shortcuts exist except through successful appeals or hearing outcomes.

Traffic Survival School attendance becomes necessary for most DUI suspensions in Arizona. This eight-hour course covers the dangers of impaired driving and the consequences of traffic violations. Alcohol screening and treatment programs may also apply, depending on your conviction terms.

SR-22 insurance documentation proves you carry minimum liability coverage required by Arizona law. Many insurers classify DUI offenders as high-risk drivers, substantially increasing premium costs for three years following reinstatement.

Ignition interlock device installation becomes mandatory for many DUI cases. Installation costs typically range from $100 to $200, with monthly monitoring fees between $60 and $100.

Reinstatement fees vary based on your suspension circumstances. Standard reinstatement typically costs $50 to $100; however, additional fees may apply for multiple suspensions. To get your license reinstated, you will likely need to gather required documentation, including your Traffic Survival School completion certificate, proof of alcohol screening or treatment completion, SR-22 insurance form, and payment for all fees.

Contact The Law Offices of John Phebus to Help You

A Glendale DUI arrest creates pressure, confusion, and immediate deadlines. Our firm provides step-by-step direction on what happens to your license when you get a DUI, from the moment of the stop through the MVD hearing and any criminal proceedings. We encourage anyone facing these consequences to call The Law Offices of John Phebus at (623) 847-7117 for guidance before the 15-day administrative period expires.

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