Refusal: Arizona law provides that an individual who operates a vehicle in Arizona has automatically consented to give a blood, breath, or urine sample to a law enforcement officer if there is reasonable suspicion that the operator of the vehicle is under the influence of alcohol. This is called the Implied Consent Law. A refusal to this mandatory test will result in a loss of one's Arizona driver's license for twelve months. If you live outside of Arizona, your driving privileges in Arizona will be withdrawn for twelve months. If an individual previously refused this test within the past five years, his license or driving privileges will be suspended for two years. The officer will confiscate the license of the driver and provide paperwork that will act as a temporary license for fifteen days. The fifteen day window is for the individual to contest the suspension and request a hearing with the Motor Vehicle Department.
BAC of .08 or Greater: If an individual chooses to submit to a blood, breath or urine test, and the alcohol concentration is .08 or greater, the officer is likely to confiscate your driver's license and the Motor Vehicle Department will suspend the license/driving privileges for ninety consecutive days. The officer will then give the driver paperwork which will act as a temporary license for fifteen days. Again, the fifteen day window is for the individual to contest the suspension and request a hearing with the Motor Vehicle Department.
BAC less than .08: Just because your alcohol level is less than .08 does not mean that you can not be arrested for DUI. Quite often, a police officer will try to obtain other signs and symptoms of alcohol-related impairment. For example, the officer may even ask a motorist if she is too intoxicated to be driving. If the driver responds, "Yes," that individual may be arrested for DUI even though her BAC is less than .08. Regardless of the rationale for the DUI arrest, the suspension of the driver's license will be identical.
If your license is suspended for DUI, your license is likely to be suspended for 90 days. While the first 30 days will be a strict suspension, the remaining 60 days is likely to permit driving to and from work and other necessary appointments. WARNING: Your license will not automatically reinstate itself. The suspension will only be lifted by going to a Motor Vehicle Department office and reinstating your license or reinstating your license online at http://www.azdot.gov/.
