Where to report someone driving on a suspended license
You can report a suspended driver to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) or to local law enforcement. The fastest route is usually the non-emergency police line for your city or county, because an officer can stop the vehicle when ready if they see it on the road. For a report you want documented but are not witnessing in real time, DPS has an online form on their website where you can submit details about the driver and vehicle.
If you witness the driving happening right now, call 911. If you have information about someone who regularly drives on a suspended license but you are not watching them drive at this moment, use the non-emergency number for your local police department — you can find this by searching "[your city] police non-emergency" or checking your city's website. For a written report that does not require an when ready response, the DPS online reporting option lets you submit the driver's name, license plate, vehicle description, and where you saw them driving.
Key Takeaways
- Call 911 if you see someone actively driving on a suspended license right now; call your local police non-emergency line if you have information about regular suspended driving.
- The Arizona Department of Public Safety accepts online reports through their website when you have details about the driver and vehicle but are not witnessing the driving in real time.
- Provide the license plate number, vehicle description, driver's name if you know it, and the location and time you saw the vehicle to make your report as useful as possible.
- A suspended license in Arizona usually means the driver's driving privileges have been revoked by the court or the Motor Vehicle Division, often due to unpaid tickets, DUI convictions, or accumulating traffic violations.
What information to include in your report
The more specific your report, the more useful it is to law enforcement. Start with the license plate number if you can see it — this is the single most helpful piece of information because it directly identifies the vehicle. If you cannot get the plate, write down the vehicle's make, model, color, and any distinctive features like bumper stickers or damage.
Include the driver's name if you know it, the date and time you saw the vehicle, and the location where you saw it. If this is someone you know is regularly driving on a suspended license, mention that pattern — for example, "I see this vehicle parked at [address] every weekday morning and the driver leaves in it around 8 a.m." This context helps officers understand whether this is a one-time sighting or an ongoing situation.
How the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division tracks suspensions
Arizona's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) maintains a database of all suspended and revoked licenses. When an officer runs a license plate or driver's license through the system, it shows when ready whether that person's driving privileges are suspended. This is why providing a license plate number is so valuable — an officer can verify the suspension status within seconds.
Suspensions in Arizona happen for several reasons: unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, accumulating too many points from traffic violations, DUI convictions, or failure to maintain car insurance. Once a license is suspended, the person is not legally allowed to drive. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Arizona, distinct from whatever caused the suspension in the first place.
What happens after you report
If you call the non-emergency line, an officer will take your report and add it to the dispatch system. If the vehicle is spotted by a patrol officer, they can stop it and verify the suspension status. If you submit an online report to DPS, it goes into their records and may be used to identify patterns of suspended driving in your area, though it does not trigger an when ready response the way a phone call does.
You do not need to follow up or provide additional information unless law enforcement contacts you directly. If the report results in a traffic stop and citation, you typically will not be notified of the outcome — that is between the driver, the officer, and the court. Your role is to provide the information; the enforcement is up to law enforcement.
Reporting online through the DPS website
The Arizona Department of Public Safety website has a reporting form under their traffic safety or public safety section. You will enter the vehicle information, driver details if known, the date and location of the sighting, and any additional context. This form does not require you to create an account or provide your personal information, though DPS may ask for contact details if they need to follow up with clarifying questions.
Online reporting is useful when you have seen the same vehicle multiple times or when you want to document a pattern without the urgency of a phone call. It creates a written record that can be cross-referenced with other reports about the same vehicle or driver. Response time is slower than a phone call — there is no may provide an officer will be dispatched to look for the vehicle — but the report stays in the system.
When to call 911 versus the non-emergency line
Call 911 if you are watching the suspended driver actively operating the vehicle right now and you believe there is when ready danger — for example, the driver is swerving, speeding, or driving recklessly. The 911 dispatcher can send an officer to intercept the vehicle while it is still in motion.
Call the non-emergency line if you have seen the vehicle but it is no longer actively driving, or if you have information about someone who regularly drives on a suspended license but you are not witnessing it at this exact moment. The non-emergency line is also the right choice if you want to report the same vehicle multiple times over a period of weeks or months. Non-emergency lines vary by location, but most cities and counties list the number on their website or in the phone book.
What you should not do
Do not attempt to stop the vehicle yourself or confront the driver. Do not follow the vehicle to get more information. Do not block the vehicle or try to prevent it from leaving. Your safety is more important than gathering additional details, and law enforcement has the training and authority to handle the situation.
If you know the driver personally and they are a family member or close friend, you may want to speak with them directly first about the suspension — they may not realize their license is suspended, or there may be circumstances you are not aware of. But if you believe the driving is a safety risk or is part of a pattern of illegal behavior, reporting to law enforcement is the appropriate step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give my name when I report someone?
No. You can make an anonymous report to the non-emergency police line or through the DPS online form. However, if law enforcement needs to follow up with you for more details or if the case goes to court, providing your name and contact information makes your report more credible and useful. Many departments will take anonymous reports but prioritize those from named witnesses.
What if I am not sure whether the license is actually suspended?
You do not need to be certain. If you have reason to believe someone is driving on a suspended license — for example, you know they received a suspension notice or you heard them say their license was suspended — you can report that information. Law enforcement will verify the suspension status when they run the license plate or driver's license through the system. Your report is the tip; the verification is their job.
Can the driver find out who reported them?
Not through the report itself. If you make an anonymous report, your identity is not shared with the driver. If you provide your name and the case goes to criminal court, you may be called as a witness, and the driver's attorney could cross-examine you. But in most traffic stops for suspended driving, the case does not go to trial — the driver receives a citation and handles it through the court system without your involvement.
What is the difference between a suspended and revoked license in Arizona?
A suspended license is temporary — the driver can eventually get it reinstated by paying fines, completing requirements, or waiting out the suspension period. A revoked license is permanent or long-term, usually due to serious violations like multiple DUIs. Both are illegal to drive on, and both should be reported the same way.
Will reporting someone get them in trouble?
Yes. Driving on a suspended license in Arizona is a criminal offense. A conviction can result in fines, jail time, and additional license suspension. If you report someone, you should understand that the consequence is a criminal charge, not just a warning. Report only if you believe the driving is genuinely unsafe or illegal and the person should face legal consequences.