Traffic Tickets in Arizona

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Civil citation means a citation issued for a violation. Civil citations over traffic violations are the most common. Civil citation programs are also available in the case of other civil violations, such as minor offenses by youth and non-adherence to building-codes.

Civil citations may be resolved through fines, community service hours, or substance abuse treatments. 

In Arizona, drivers can receive a wide variety of traffic-related civil citations. When you receive a civil citation and plead not responsible, you must attend a traffic hearing, whereby the court will decide whether you deserve to be sanctioned or the case should be dismissed.

Common civil traffic violations include speeding, unsafe lane changes, and failure to yield. In Arizona, DUI, reckless driving, and other serious violations are categorized as criminal violations. While criminal traffic violations are not eligible for defensive driving class, civil violations are, and it is sometimes possible to resolve civil citations by attending a specialized driving course.

Understanding Civil Citations

This diagram shows the process of civil citations in Arizona in detail. As you can see, civil citations can be punishable by fines and driving record points. In Arizona, accumulating points in one’s driving record can result in a suspended license. If you have received a civil citation in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, Yuma, or elsewhere in the state, you should take it very seriously.

Civil Traffic Citations

When you receive a civil traffic citation, you have three options:

Pleading Not Guilty 

If you state that you have not committed a violation, there will be a hearing where you and your traffic ticket lawyer will have the chance to present evidence, and a justice of the peace or a civil traffic hearing officer will make a decision about your responsibility.

Pleading Guilty

If you opt for accepting responsibility, you will have to pay the appropriate fines. 

Defensive Driving School

In some cases, you don’t have to pay a fine and can attend defensive driving school instead. 

You may attend defensive driving school and get your minor violation dismissed if:

  • You were not involved in a serious accident that resulted in serious injury or death
  • You are not a commercial driver’s license holder
  • You haven’t attended defensive driving school within the last year

Defensive driving school can only be used to resolve one violation at a time. When you successfully complete this type of course, you don’t have to pay a fine, and you won’t accumulate driving record points.

Common Civil Traffic Violations

  • Speeding
  • Driving below the minimum permitted speed
  • Illegal turns and crossing a street illegally
  • Failing to obey traffic lights and other traffic control devices
  • Leaving a vehicle running
  • Driving with expired license plates
  • Failure to use a seatbelt
  • Illegal parking
  • Not stopping at stop signs
  • Driving without a valid driver’s license
  • Failing to provide vehicle and driver documentation
  • Driving without insurance

Red Light Violations

One of the most common civil traffic violations is running a red light. If you plead guilty or are found to be responsible, you will have to pay a fine and two points will be added to your record. Your insurance premiums will also increase as a result of this type of violation.

Red Light Violation Outcomes

  • Increased insurance premiums (typically more than in the case of speeding)
  • In-person traffic survival class
  • Fine
  • Two points added to your driving record

Civil Traffic Defendants’ Rights

  • Right to a hearing
  • Right to be represented by an Arizona traffic lawyer (you must notify the court 10 days prior to the date set for the hearing)
  • Right to cross-examine witnesses
  • Right to introduce evidence and witnesses (with subpoenas issued at no cost for you)
  • Right to appeal the hearing’s outcome (you lose this right if you fail to appear)

Defensive Driving School 

 

Attending defensive driving school can have many advantages, including:

  • No need to appear in court if you attend defensive driving school prior to the hearing date
  • No need to pay the fine
  • You can easily register online
  • The violation will be deleted from your record if you complete the class successfully

If you are cited for multiple violations, you can only attend defensive driving school for one of them. You will have to either pay the fines or fight in court to get the other ones dismissed.

If you were cited in Arizona, but reside elsewhere, you can register for out-of-state attendance. Arizona provides a list of certified defensive driving schools at https://www.azcourts.gov/drive/Defensive-Driving-Schools.

Useful Definitions for Civil Citations in Phoenix 

  • Civil Traffic Compromise: An agreement between a defendant and a victim, whereby the victim recommends the citation should be dismissed, often because the defendant has paid the victim’s losses in full.
  • Civil Traffic Hearing: A hearing held to decide whether a civil traffic violation was committed.
  • Civil Traffic Hearing Officer: An official who presides over civil traffic violation cases.
  • Default: Failure to appear in court or pay a fine.

TTEAP Hold: Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program hold on the registration of every single vehicle registered to the defendant until all fines have been paid or waivers have been issued. 

Why Fight Traffic Tickets in Phoenix

In Arizona, civil traffic tickets are quite common. While people often opt for simply paying the the fines, acknowledging responsibility can have undesired consequences, and it is important to fight traffic tickets whenever possible.

If you don’t contest your ticket, points can be added to your license, and violations can be documented on your record. With enough license points, your license can be suspended, and your insurance premiums will likely increase.

An experienced Phoenix traffic attorney can help you prevent a damaging traffic conviction and assert your rights as a motorist. With the right counsel on your side, you can save time and money. Our Phoenix traffic lawyers can help you navigate Arizona’s civil citation system, building a solid case to reduce your fines and working towards removing traffic violations from your record. Contact our Arizona civil citations team today for a free consultation.