Pima County License Hearing Guide

Refuse a breath test in Pima County and your license is suspended for 12 months, no matter what happens with the criminal case. Fail it — 0.08% or higher — and you're still suspended, just under a different clock. Both start the moment you're arrested, not when the criminal case resolves.

The Affidavit Is Your Temporary License

Under Arizona's implied consent law (A.R.S. § 28-1321), driving in the state means you've already agreed to a blood, breath, or urine test if arrested for DUI. When an officer confiscates your physical license, they hand you a yellow copy of the Admin Per Se / Implied Consent Affidavit (Form 40-5807) in its place. That yellow sheet functions as a valid temporary driver's license immediately — there's no waiting period before it's usable, despite what you may have heard about a "12-hour" gap. That confusion usually comes from jail release rules, not MVD rules: you obviously can't drive while still in custody or intoxicated, but the paper itself is valid the second it's issued. As of a 2023 change, it's good for 30 days from the date of issuance.

You Have 30 Days to Request a Hearing

Arizona used to give drivers only 15 days to request a hearing before the suspension became automatic. Senate Bill 1334, effective January 1, 2023, extended that to 30 days. If you don't request a hearing by day 30, the suspension takes effect automatically on day 31 — typically 90 days for a first per se violation, 12 months for a refusal. Requesting a hearing within the window puts a "stay" on the suspension, meaning your temporary permit stays valid until the hearing actually happens and a decision comes down, which in a crowded docket can extend driving privileges for months.

Where to File — and Where Not To

This is the part that trips people up. In-person hearings for Pima County residents are held at 400 W. Congress St. in Tucson, a multi-agency state office building referred to as the Capitol Annex (room assignments vary — check your notice). But that address cannot receive your filing. The Executive Hearing Office states explicitly that there's no mail delivery and no drop box at the Tucson location; every hearing request, regardless of where you live, has to reach the Phoenix office. Your options: the online portal at azdot.gov/mvd/executive-hearing (fastest, gives an immediate digital receipt), fax to (602) 241-1624, mail to Executive Hearing Office, Mail Drop 507M, P.O. Box 2100, Phoenix, AZ 85001-2100, or in person at 3838 N. Central Ave., Suite 300, Phoenix. Dropping a request off at the Tucson hearing room does not stop the clock. Since the pandemic, most hearings themselves default to a phone call or Google Meet link unless you specifically request an in-person appearance at least 7 days ahead.

Restricted Driving Without a Hard Suspension

Before 2023, a driver facing a 90-day suspension had to sit through a mandatory 30-day "hard suspension" with no driving at all before qualifying for a restricted permit. SB 1334 eliminated that. Now, if you waive your hearing right (or lose one), you can move straight from the 30-day temporary permit into a Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Driver License (SIIRDL) with no gap, as long as you move fast enough to get a certified interlock device installed. The restriction is the device itself, not your schedule or destination — there's no logbook requirement; the interlock's own data serves as the record every time the car starts. To get the SIIRDL you'll need: no other outstanding suspensions, a certified ignition interlock device installed within 90 days of applying, SR-22 insurance filed with ADOT, and completion of a mandated alcohol screening.

Getting Your Discovery Records

If you're contesting either the criminal case or the suspension, you'll likely need the police report, dashcam or body camera footage, and any 911 audio. Fees and turnaround depend on which agency made the arrest. Tucson Police charges $5 flat for a standard report (15 pages included, $0.25 each after that), $25 per disc for digital data including 911 calls, and $44 per hour of body cam or dashcam footage reviewed. The Pima County Sheriff's Department charges a $5 minimum for incident reports, $10 each for photos or 911 audio, and $46 per hour for video. Arizona DPS, for stops on I-10 or I-19, charges $21.33 per half hour of video, and records are centralized in Phoenix rather than locally in Tucson. Move quickly: TPD purges "Attempt to Locate" data after just 20 days and general radio/911 audio after 180 days, so evidence relevant to the initial stop can disappear before a case reaches arraignment.

MVD Office Locations

Three ADOT MVD offices serve Pima County, and their capabilities differ. Tucson Regional, at 3565 S. Broadmont, is the full-service hub — the only one offering road and motorcycle skills testing by appointment. Tucson North, at 7330 N. Shannon Rd, and Tucson East, at 1360 S. Stocker Dr, both handle CDL written tests but do not administer CDL skills tests. All three open late — 12:00 p.m. — on the second Wednesday of each month for staff training, and standard hours otherwise run 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a line cutoff around 4:45 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I have to request an MVD hearing after a Pima County DUI arrest? 30 days, as of a January 2023 law change (SB 1334) that replaced the old 15-day window. Miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically on day 31.

Can I mail my Pima County MVD hearing request to the Tucson office? No. Hearings are held at 400 W. Congress St. in Tucson, but all filings must go to the Phoenix Executive Hearing Office — online, by fax to (602) 241-1624, or by mail to P.O. Box 2100, Phoenix, AZ 85001-2100. There's no mail delivery or drop box at the Tucson address.

Do I need to keep a driving log with a restricted (SIIRDL) license in Pima County? No. The SIIRDL restricts how you drive — with a certified interlock device — not where or when. The device's own data serves as the record; there's no paper logbook requirement.

Which Pima County MVD office should I use for a road test? Tucson Regional, at 3565 S. Broadmont, is the only one of the three local offices offering road and motorcycle skills testing. Tucson North and Tucson East handle written CDL tests only.

How much does it cost to get the police report from my Pima County DUI arrest? It depends on the agency: Tucson Police charges $5 flat for a standard report, the Sheriff's Department charges a $5 minimum, and Arizona DPS charges $21.33 per half hour for video from a highway stop.