What Is a Moving Violation? Know These 10 Types
Do you know what a moving violation is? Even if you don’t know the term, you’ve likely heard of these violations before. As the name implies, moving violations are any traffic law breaches that occur while your vehicle is in motion. You’ll see similar types of driving laws across the nation, but the consequences for violating them often vary by state. Get the information you need to know about moving violations in Arizona.
The Arizona Point System
Like many states, Arizona uses a point system to regulate moving violations. The system is quite simple: different traffic infractions lead to different amounts of points being added to your record. Even just one point could cause your insurance rates to skyrocket, and as the points accumulate, you’ll face other consequences too, such as license suspension, traffic survival school, and even license revocation.
10 Moving Violations to Know
Here are the top moving violations you need to know broken down according to Arizona’s point system.
Extreme DUI: Driver’s face criminal charges and receive 8 points on their license record when they receive an extreme DUI. What makes a DUI extreme? When the driver has blood alcohol content of 0.15% or more
DUI: Regular DUI’s also add 8 points to your driving record. A DUI falls under this category when the driver has a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more.
Reckless driving: Arizona law defines a reckless driver as “A person who drives a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.” This could take on many forms, such as cutting off other drivers, swerving between lanes, and running red lights. In all cases, the driver may face criminal charges and 8 points on their record.
Aggressive driving: In Arizona, drivers are considered aggressive if they commit a series of hazardous acts during a continuous period of driving, exceed the posted speed limit, and commit one of these violations:
- Failure to obey traffic control signs or signals
- Passing another vehicle on the right side
- Unsafe lane change
- Following too close
- Failure to yield to emergency vehicles
Leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run): A hit and run driver faces different consequences depending on the severity of the accident. If only property damages (and no injury) occur, the driver will only face misdemeanor charges. If death or physical injury occurs to another person, the hit and run driver may face felony charges.
Failure to stop for a traffic signal, stop sign or to yield the right-of-way, causing death: Just like leaving the scene of an accident, this violation results in 6 points on your record and possible negligent homicide or manslaughter charges.
Failure to stop for a traffic signal, stop sign or yield the right-of-way, causing serious injury: This violation may not result in vehicular homicide or manslaughter charges, but you could still face criminal charges, plus 4 points on your record.
Speeding: Speeding of any kind could put 3 points on your record, but depending on how fast you’re going, you may face various additional charges. If you speed in school zones, for example, you could end up with hefty fines and possible jail time.
Driving over or parking in a gore area: Crossing the gore area, the triangular space between highway lanes and exit/entrance ramps, could result in 3 points on your license record—on top of potentially causing serious accidents.
All other moving violations: These include more minor moving violations, such as tailing a vehicle too close, and will add 2 points to your record.
At Stop and Go Driving School, we give you all of the skills and knowledge you need to know to safely navigate the roads and keep your record clean. Register for a driver’s education courses today.
