DUI license suspension in Arizona actually runs on two separate tracks at once, and most people only find out the hard way. One track belongs to MVD and moves fast, often before the criminal case even gets going. The other belongs to the criminal court and depends on how the case resolves. They don’t cancel each other out — they stack.
Track one: MVD’s administrative suspension
Under Arizona’s admin per se law, A.R.S. § 28-1385, MVD can suspend a driver’s license based solely on a DUI arrest and a chemical test result of 0.08 BAC or higher — no conviction required. The officer typically confiscates the license at the arrest and serves a suspension notice, which functions as a temporary permit. The suspension itself doesn’t take effect for 15 days.
The 15-day window to request a hearing
A driver has 15 days from the date served to request a hearing with MVD’s Executive Hearing Office. Requesting a hearing on time pauses the suspension until an administrative law judge decides the case. Missing the deadline lets the suspension start automatically on day 16, with no hearing available afterward. The standard admin per se suspension runs 90 days, though drivers who complete alcohol screening may qualify for a shorter restricted period.
Why the MVD process moves differently than the criminal case
The hearing is decided by an administrative law judge, not a criminal court judge, and the standard of proof is lower — a preponderance of the evidence rather than beyond a reasonable doubt. A driver can win the MVD hearing and still face DUI charges. They can also lose the MVD hearing and later have the criminal case reduced or dismissed. The two outcomes aren’t linked.
Track two: the criminal court’s suspension or revocation
Separately, a DUI conviction in criminal court triggers its own license consequences as part of sentencing — suspension or revocation length depends on which DUI tier applies and whether it’s a repeat offense within the 84-month look-back window. This suspension runs independently of, and often on a different timeline than, whatever MVD already imposed administratively. A person can end up serving overlapping or sequential suspension periods from both tracks off a single arrest.
Where the ignition interlock requirement fits in
Once a DUI conviction is reported to MVD, the ignition interlock requirement kicks in as a condition tied to reinstating driving privileges, regardless of which track imposed the suspension. It runs from whichever comes later — the date privileges become eligible for reinstatement, or the date MVD receives the report of conviction.
What a DUI license suspension in Arizona does not affect
It’s worth noting these suspensions are specific to the DUI process itself. Refusing a chemical test triggers a separate, longer suspension under Arizona’s implied consent law rather than the admin per se process described here — that’s a distinct track with its own 12-month first-refusal penalty.
The bottom line
A DUI license suspension in Arizona isn’t one event — it’s the product of two independent systems that can both act on the same arrest. MVD’s administrative suspension moves fast and doesn’t wait for a conviction. The criminal court’s suspension follows the outcome of the case itself and can run on top of whatever MVD already did. Anyone facing a DUI needs to track both deadlines separately, because missing the 15-day MVD hearing window closes off an entire avenue of relief that the criminal case timeline won’t reopen.
Frequently asked questions
MVD’s admin per se suspension is based on the arrest and test result alone, decided by an administrative law judge. The criminal court’s suspension follows a conviction and is decided as part of sentencing.
Commonly 15 days from the date the suspension notice is served. Requesting a hearing on time pauses the suspension until a decision is made.
Yes. The two processes are independent. A driver can win the administrative hearing and still face the criminal case, or the reverse.
90 days for a 0.08 or higher test result, though drivers who complete alcohol screening may qualify for a shorter restricted period.
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This article explains the general structure of Arizona’s two DUI license suspension systems. Specific deadlines and suspension lengths depend on the individual case — confirm exact dates against the paperwork served and consult MVD or a qualified attorney.