Two stacked Class 1 Misdemeanor suspended-license counts at Glendale City Court would have produced 360 days of combined jail exposure and $5,000 in potential fines. Future First exposed the duplicative charging and ended the case with one count dismissed and a $212 fine on the other.

At a glance

Court	Glendale City Court
Original charges	Driving on a Suspended License (ARS § 28-3473(A)), Class 1 Misdemeanor; Driving on a Revoked License (ARS § 28-3482(A)), Class 1 Misdemeanor
Combined presumptive exposure	Up to 360 days jail across both counts, up to 3 years probation per count, fines up to $5,000, two stacked Class 1 Misdemeanors on the record
Result	Count A dismissed on State’s motion; Count B resolved with $212 fine, no jail, no probation
Eligibility for set aside	Approximately 2021 under ARS § 13-905
Eligibility for sealing	Approximately 2024 under ARS § 13-911, three years after sentence completion

The stakes

The client picked up two Class 1 Misdemeanor traffic charges in Glendale, both for driving on a suspended license. One count alleged a suspension or revocation. The other alleged a suspension tied to a failure to appear or failure to pay.

Stacked together, the client faced up to 360 days of jail exposure across both counts, the prospect of years of probation, and fines reaching $5,000. Two Class 1 Misdemeanor convictions on the same record carry more weight than one for future background checks, housing, and employment.

What we did

Future First pushed back on the duplicative charging and the underlying paperwork. The State filed a motion to dismiss Count A and the court granted it. The remaining count resolved with a $212 fine.

No jail. No probation. No additional Class 1 Misdemeanor stacked on the record. Set-aside under ARS § 13-905 was available in 2021. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 come online in 2024, three years after sentence completion.

What our clients say

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If you’re facing duplicative traffic charging in Arizona

Arizona’s traffic statutes include several overlapping provisions that prosecutors sometimes charge in parallel rather than picking one. ARS § 28-3473 covers driving on a suspended license. ARS § 28-3482 covers driving on a revoked license. The factual overlap is substantial — most suspensions and revocations share underlying triggers (failure to pay, failure to appear, accumulated points, DUI consequences).

When the State files both counts on a single driving incident, defense work targets the duplicative nature of the charging. The motion can argue that one count subsumes the other under the facts alleged, that the State cannot prove the distinct elements required for separate convictions, or that the underlying paperwork supports only one of the two counts. When the prosecutor agrees, the State files its own motion to dismiss the redundant count.

Future First Criminal Law has handled duplicative traffic charging cases across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how Glendale City Court and other municipal courts evaluate stacked license counts, and how to push the State toward dropping the redundant charge.

Related resources

Arizona criminal defense — full overview of how we handle misdemeanor and felony charges
Set aside and sealing in Arizona — how to clean up your record after a conviction

Call us

Facing a suspended or revoked license charge in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of license-related criminal charges across Arizona. 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 license law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.