A first-offense DUI at Tempe Municipal Court carried 1 day mandatory jail, a 12-month IID, SR-22, MADD VIP, and a permanent C1M DUI record. Future First reduced the case to Reckless Driving with zero jail, zero IID, and no DUI on the record.
At a glance
| Court | Tempe Municipal 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 $1,700, and a permanent C1M DUI conviction with a 3-year sealing wait |
| Result | State amended charge to Reckless Driving under ARS § 28-693(A), Class 2 Misdemeanor; zero jail; $700 fine paid in full at sentencing; 16 hours of DUI counseling completed; no IID, no SR-22, no MADD VIP, no DUI on the record; sealing wait cut from 3 years to 2 |
| 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) in Tempe Municipal Court. A standard DUI conviction would have required 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 attendance, full DUI counseling, fines and surcharges typically running $1,700 or more, and a permanent DUI record that surfaces on background checks for life.
What we did
Future First negotiated the case down to Reckless Driving, a Class 2 Misdemeanor under ARS § 28-693(A) and a non-DUI offense. The client served zero jail days, paid a $700 fine in full at court, and completed 16 hours of DUI counseling. No IID, no SR-22, no MADD VIP, 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, instead of the 3-year DUI wait.
What the client said
Zach and his team did an excellent job handling my case and got me the best deal possible.
— Verified Google review
If you’re facing a first-offense DUI in Arizona
Tempe Municipal Court is one of the busier DUI courts in Maricopa County and handles a high volume of first-offense cases each year. The prosecutor’s standard structure on a DUI-to-Reckless reduction in Tempe typically requires the client to complete the recommended counseling course and accept a fine package that settles in the $600 to $1,200 range, well below the Standard DUI fine package.
Paying the fine in full at sentencing rather than on a payment plan can sometimes unlock additional reductions on the back end. Some Tempe judges accept a reduced fine package or shortened probation tail when the financial obligation clears on the day of sentencing. The structure works best when the client and defense counsel coordinate the fine logistics in advance of the sentencing hearing.
Future First Criminal Law has handled first-offense DUI reductions across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how Tempe Municipal Court evaluates DUI-to-Reckless reduction requests and sentencing-day structuring.
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.