A first-offense DUI at Arrowhead Justice Court carried 1 day mandatory jail, a 12-month IID, SR-22, MADD VIP, full DUI counseling, fines and surcharges over $2,500, and a permanent C1M DUI record. Future First reduced the case to Reckless Driving with zero jail, zero IID, and approximately $2,000 saved on fines.
At a glance
| Court | Arrowhead Justice Court |
| Original charge | DUI Impaired to the Slightest Degree (ARS § 28-1381(A)(1)), Class 1 Misdemeanor |
| Presumptive exposure | 1 day mandatory in custody, mandatory IID for one year, full DUI counseling, SR-22 high-risk insurance for three years, MADD victim impact panel, fines and surcharges typically running over $2,500, and a permanent C1M DUI conviction with a 3-year sealing wait |
| Result | State amended charge to Reckless Driving under ARS § 28-693, a non-DUI offense; zero jail (1 day credit for time served at arrest); approximately $800 in fines (roughly $2,000 saved versus a Standard DUI fine package); 16 hours counseling completed; MADD VIP completed; no IID, no SR-22, no DUI on the record |
| Eligibility for set aside | After sentence completion under ARS § 13-905 |
| Eligibility for sealing | Approximately 2026 under ARS § 13-911, two years after sentence completion under the Class 2 Misdemeanor wait |
The stakes
The client faced a Class 1 Misdemeanor DUI under ARS § 28-1381(A)(1). A standard DUI conviction would have meant at least 1 day in custody, a one-year ignition interlock device on every vehicle the client drove, SR-22 high-risk insurance for three years, MADD VIP, full DUI counseling, fines and surcharges over $2,500, and a permanent DUI on the record that surfaces on every background check.
What we did
Future First negotiated the case down to Reckless Driving under ARS § 28-693, a non-DUI offense. The client served zero jail days with 1 day credit for time served at arrest, paid approximately $800 in fines instead of the typical $2,500-plus, completed 16 hours of counseling, and attended a victim impact panel. No IID. No SR-22. No DUI on the record. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 became available after sentence completion. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 eligible approximately 2026, two years after sentence completion.
What our clients say
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If you’re facing a first-offense DUI in Arizona
The financial benefit of a DUI-to-Reckless reduction is often underestimated at the front of the case. A Standard DUI conviction in most Maricopa County jurisdictions carries fines and surcharges between $1,500 and $2,500 depending on the local assessment structure. The Reckless Driving fine package settles in the $600 to $1,200 range with no DUI-specific assessments stacked on top.
Beyond the direct fine package, the SR-22 high-risk insurance requirement on a DUI conviction typically adds $1,000 to $1,500 in premium increases per year for three years. The Reckless Driving plea avoids the SR-22 trigger entirely. Combining the fine package savings with the SR-22 avoidance, the total financial benefit of a DUI-to-Reckless reduction over the first three years routinely exceeds $4,000.
Future First Criminal Law has handled first-offense DUI reductions across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how Arrowhead Justice Court and other justice courts evaluate DUI-to-Reckless reduction requests.
Related resources
- Arizona DUI defense — full overview of how we handle every tier of DUI charge
- Set aside and sealing in Arizona — how to clean up your record after a DUI conviction
Call us
Facing a first-offense DUI in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-932-7890 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of Arizona DUI cases at every tier. The earlier we are involved, the more options you have.
Anonymized in line with firm policy. Client name not used. Specific dates approximated to year only. Outcome described reflects this client’s actual results. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. For more detailed information on Arizona DUI law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.