Blue Envelopes available in Arizona for autistic drivers and passengers

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has partnered with other agencies to launch a program designed to inform law enforcement and individuals who are on the autism spectrum about what to expect during a traffic stop. 

The Blue Envelope Program works by allowing an individual to present a blue envelope when contacted by law enforcement to indicate that someone in the vehicle may interact differently during the situation. 

The envelope has instructions for the driver as well as the law enforcement officer to follow and advises the officer that someone in the vehicle may respond differently to instructions in situations that can increase anxiety. It’s designed to help guide effective communication, reduce the stress of the encounter and ensure safety of all parties.

ADOT MVD partnered with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and the University of Arizona’s Police Department, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, and the university’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (ArizonaLEND) training program to bring the envelopes to Arizona. 

The partnership included training for several law enforcement agencies from around Arizona at a recent event held by the University of Arizona Police Department. Training with officers and volunteer drivers simulated different traffic stop scenarios with the new blue envelopes.

The blue envelope is a voluntary way to hold important vehicle documents such as insurance, registration and even emergency contact information, while also being a communication tool between the driver and law enforcement during an interaction. However, providing the blue envelope does not guarantee a citation will not be issued. 

The envelopes are now available at all ADOT MVD offices statewide, as well as various law enforcement offices and other locations across the state. You don’t need to register for this program; simply request an envelope at any of these locations. 

For additional information about this program, please visit azdot.gov/BlueEnvelope.