In mid-April 2020, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) launched a new online website, called AZ MVD Now. AZ MVD NOW is a portal where all Arizona licensed drivers, and non-licensed Arizona drivers or out-of-state licensed drivers who have received traffic citations in Arizona, can access important information about their Arizona driver’s records. Those records include a driving history and copies of any corrective action notices which the Arizona MVD has mailed to the driver.
Unfortunately, when it first went online the AZ MVD Now site did not function properly and it was several weeks before it did so, and a few more weeks before it did so in a fashion approaching correctness. Also during this time the virus pandemic was transforming our way of life, and during those weeks when the site did not function Arizona MVD itself was also closed, both by phone and at all in-person MVD locations.
The situation itself was bad enough, but also as a part of the kinks being worked out of the new site more than a thousand CDL holders, whose livelihoods depend on their ability to drive, received erroneous notices from ADOT stating their license was disqualified (or cancelled). A past client was one of those CDL holders and thankfully we were able to confirm with MVD Driver Improvement the notice was a mistake and his CDL was not cancelled, but I think with concern and sympathy of all the people who received erroneous notices, CDL and many other erroneous notices, during this time period who were not able to visit or call MVD, for months, and who did not have an attorney with resources to check their license status, to say nothing of fixing any unresolved errors.
At this point (October 29, 2020) the website is largely functional and you can again call MVD if you have some time to spare ((602) 255-0072 or (602) 712-2700 or (800) 251-5866), and you can even go in-person to local MVD locations though you do have to make an appointment first. I recommend all my clients, and anyone who is a licensed driver in the State of Arizona, now sign up for an AZ MVD Now account as soon as possible. To start it is an easy way for a person to monitor the status of their license, but you can also update your address, receive notifications, request a copy of your Arizona Motor Vehicle Driver License Record, monitor your vehicle registration, and download copies of notices the MVD has mailed to you, even if you did not receive them.
Corrective actions go into effect automatically after a relatively short time period unless action is taken, therefore in my DUI practice it is crucial to timely receive any corrective action notices, not only to potentially take action to prevent a suspension, extension or withdrawal action, but also simply to make certain what the clients have received is correct.
Visit AZ MVD Now to sign up for an account; there is a short 4-minute how-to video on the home page. Have access to the email address and cell phone you’ll use for registration as you will receive codes during the registration, and you don’t have to choose any facial recognition if you don’t want it.
Gordon Thompson
For more information about Arizona DUI and criminal law issues please contact Gordon Thompson who has used his experience to write a blog on topics of interest. You can also chat with Gordon about your specific questions.
Website: https://www.GordonThompsonAttorney.net
Blog: https://www.GordonThompsonAttorney.net/blog/
