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DUI Restricted Permits & Licenses

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Gordon Thompson

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20 min read

 


 

Arizona DUI Defense — License Issues

Arizona Restricted Driver’s Permits & Licenses During a Suspension or Revocation

A complete guide to every type of restricted driving permit and Special Ignition Interlock License available under Arizona law — explained in plain English by an experienced Phoenix DUI attorney.

📞 Free Consultation: (602) 467-3680

If your Arizona driver’s license has been suspended or revoked — especially after a DUI arrest or conviction — you may not have to stop driving entirely. Arizona law provides several types of restricted permits and Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Licenses (SIIRLs) depending on the circumstances of your suspension.

Important: These options are primarily limited to Arizona-licensed drivers. The Arizona MVD does not generally permit drivers with out-of-state licenses to drive under a restricted permit while subject to an Arizona suspension or revocation — a practice that raises serious constitutional questions but remains current MVD policy.

Types of Restricted Licenses & Permits in Arizona

Admin Per Se Suspension — No Serious Injuries, No DUI in Past 7 Years

⏱ 90-Day Suspension
Two Options Available

Option 1
Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License
28 A.R.S. § 1385.K ↗

To obtain this license, the driver must:

  1. Complete Substance Abuse Screening
  2. Install a certified Ignition Interlock Device
✓ Drive anywhere, for any purpose, at any time — with the interlock installed

Option 2
Restricted Permit
28 A.R.S. § 1385.I ↗

Requires completion of Substance Abuse Screening. Permitted driving 28 A.R.S. § 144 ↗ is limited to travel:

  1. Between your place of employment and residence during specified work hours
  2. Between residence, employment, and secondary or post-secondary school per your schedule
  3. Between residence and a screening, education, or treatment facility for scheduled appointments
  4. Between residence and your probation officer’s office for scheduled appointments
  5. Between residence and a physician or other health care professional
  6. Between residence and a certified ignition interlock device service facility 28 A.R.S. § 1402.A ↗

First Implied Consent Suspension Within the Past 7 Years

⏱ 12-Month Suspension
One Option Available

Option
Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License
28 A.R.S. § 1321.P ↗

To obtain this license, the driver must:

  1. Complete Substance Abuse Screening
  2. Post an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance
  3. Install a certified Ignition Interlock Device
✓ Drive anywhere, for any purpose, at any time — with the interlock installed

First Offense Regular or Extreme DUI Misdemeanor Conviction Within Past 7 Years

Restricted Permit — After First 30 Days

Where there is no Admin Per Se 28 A.R.S. § 1385 ↗ or Implied Consent 28 A.R.S. § 1321 ↗ suspension, a Restricted Permit is available after the first 30 days of suspension (assuming no serious injury 28 A.R.S. § 1387.E ↗). Requirements:

  1. Complete Substance Abuse Screening
  2. Post an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance

Permitted driving 28 A.R.S. § 144 ↗ is limited to:

  1. Between employment and residence during specified work hours
  2. Between residence, employment, and secondary or post-secondary school per your schedule
  3. Between residence and a screening, education, or treatment facility for scheduled appointments
  4. Between residence and your probation officer’s office for scheduled appointments
  5. Between residence and a physician or health care professional
  6. Between residence and a certified ignition interlock device service facility 28 A.R.S. § 1402.A ↗

First Offense Felony DUI With a Child in the Vehicle

SIIRL — After First 90 Days

A Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License is available after the first 90 days of suspension 28 A.R.S. § 1383.K ↗, provided the driver:

  1. Completes Substance Abuse Screening
  2. Posts an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance
  3. Installs a certified Ignition Interlock Device
✓ Drive anywhere, for any purpose, at any time — with the interlock installed

Second Offense Regular or Extreme DUI Within the Past 7 Years

SIIRL — After First 90 Days of Admin Per Se + 45 Days of Revocation

A Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License is available for Regular DUI 28 A.R.S. § 1381.O ↗ and Extreme DUI 28 A.R.S. § 1382.H ↗ after the first 90 days of the Admin Per Se suspension 28 A.R.S. § 1385 ↗ / 28 A.R.S. § 1387.D ↗ and the first 45 days of the revocation. Requirements:

  1. Complete Substance Abuse Screening
  2. Post an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance
  3. Install a certified Ignition Interlock Device
✓ Drive anywhere, for any purpose, at any time — with the interlock installed

Underage Drinking and Driving (Under 21)

⏱ 2-Year Mandatory Suspension
Court-Ordered SIIRL

Drivers convicted of Underage Drinking and Driving face a mandatory 2-year license suspension. A Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License may be issued only if the court orders the MVD to do so 28 A.R.S. § 3322 ↗. Requirements:

  1. Post an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance
  2. Install a certified Ignition Interlock Device

The SIIRL restricts the driver to travel between home, school, and place of employment, during specified times according to the person’s school and employment schedule.

Driving on a Suspended License

As of August 3, 2018, the mandatory license suspension for a conviction of driving on a suspended license has been eliminated under 28 A.R.S. § 3473 ↗. A restricted permit is no longer needed in these cases.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death or Serious Physical Injury

A driver convicted under 25 A.R.S. § 661 ↗ may apply for a Restricted License 5 years after completing their prison sentence, provided:

  1. They have not been convicted of any offense involving operation of a motor vehicle while their privilege was revoked
  2. They have paid full restitution as ordered by the court

Permitted driving 28 A.R.S. § 3473.B ↗ is limited to:

  1. Between employment and residence during specified work hours
  2. Between residence, employment, and secondary or post-secondary school per your schedule
  3. Between residence and a screening, education, or treatment facility for scheduled appointments
  4. Between residence and your probation officer’s office for scheduled appointments
  5. Between residence and a physician or health care professional
  6. Between residence and a certified ignition interlock device service facility

Suspension for Nonpayment of Child Support

Restricted License for Child Support Suspension

Arizona noncommercial driver’s licenses and driving privileges may be suspended for nonpayment of child support under 25 A.R.S. § 518 ↗. To qualify for a Restricted License, the driver must:

  1. Be employed for at least 30 hours per week
  2. Have a workplace or school more than one mile from their residence
  3. Show that employment or education can reasonably help bring them into compliance with the support order in a timely manner
  4. Enter into a payment plan with the Department of Economic Security to pay the child support arrearage (non-compliance with this plan may result in re-suspension)

Permitted driving is limited to:

  1. Between employment and residence during specified work hours
  2. Between residence, employment, and secondary or post-secondary school per your schedule
  3. Between residence and a screening, education, or treatment facility for scheduled appointments
  4. Between residence and a physician or health care professional
  5. Between residence and a location designated for the purpose of parenting time

⚠ Critical Rule — Applies to All Suspensions & Revocations

A restricted permit or Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License expires at the same time as the underlying suspension or revocation. If your Arizona driver’s license or privilege to drive has not been fully reinstated by the end of that period, you may not drive for any reason — not even with an interlock. Make sure reinstatement is complete before your suspension end date.

When Restricted Licenses Are Not Available

Restricted permits and Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Licenses are not available for the following suspension and revocation categories:

Frequently Asked Questions

In many cases, yes. Arizona law provides restricted driving permits and Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Licenses for many suspension and revocation types. However, restricted driving is NOT available for all suspensions — Aggravated DUI, second implied consent suspensions, no-insurance suspensions, and others on the list above are excluded. Your specific situation determines what options exist.

A Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License allows a suspended or revoked driver to operate any vehicle equipped with a certified ignition interlock device — anywhere, for any purpose, and at any time — during the suspension period. It is generally a better option than a basic restricted permit if you qualify, because it removes the strict destination limits.

A standard restricted permit limits WHERE and WHEN you can drive — typically to work, school, medical appointments, probation visits, and treatment programs. A Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License (SIIRL) lets you drive to any destination at any time, as long as the vehicle has a working ignition interlock device installed and you pass the breath test.

Generally no. The Arizona MVD does not issue restricted permits or licenses to drivers who hold a license from another state. These options are primarily available to Arizona-licensed drivers. Notably, this policy is considered by many to be constitutionally questionable, but it remains current MVD practice.

Your restricted permit or SIIRL expires at the same moment as your suspension or revocation period. If reinstatement has not been completed by that date, you cannot drive for any reason — even with an interlock device. This rule applies to every type of suspension and revocation in Arizona. Make sure full reinstatement is in place before your suspension ends.

Yes, in many cases. For a second Regular or Extreme DUI within 7 years, a Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License is available after the first 90 days of the Admin Per Se suspension and after the first 45 days of the revocation. You must complete substance abuse screening, post an SR-22, and install a certified ignition interlock device.

No — with one narrow exception. Restricted licenses are NOT available for Aggravated DUI convictions, unless the only aggravating factor was having a child in the vehicle (28 A.R.S. § 1383.K). In that specific case, a Special Ignition Interlock Restricted License may be available after the first 90 days. All other Aggravated DUI revocations are excluded.

It depends on the type of permit. A basic Restricted Permit for a first Admin Per Se suspension (Section A, Option 2) does not require an SR-22 — only substance abuse screening. However, most Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Licenses DO require posting an SR-22 certificate of insurance with the Arizona MVD before the restricted license can be issued.

Facing an Arizona License Suspension? Let’s Talk.

Gordon Thompson has 47 years of experience and has handled more than 6,000 DUI and criminal defense cases in Arizona. He can review your situation and explain exactly which restricted permits or licenses you qualify for — and how to get them quickly.

📞 Call (602) 467-3680
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Legal Disclaimer: This page is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Arizona DUI and license suspension law is complex and fact-specific. The information on this page may not reflect the most recent statutory changes. Contact attorney Gordon Thompson directly for advice specific to your situation. Attorney Gordon Thompson is licensed in Arizona (State Bar No. 007164). This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.