602-900-7625
Free Consultation
An Operating with Liquor in Body Under 21 charge at Arrowhead Justice Court could have produced 180 days of jail exposure, $2,500 in fines plus surcharges, and a mandatory 2-year MVD license suspension. Future First resolved the case with a $491 fine, no jail, and no probation.
At a glance
| Court | Arrowhead Justice Court |
| Original charges | Operating a Vehicle with Spirituous Liquor in Body while Under 21 (ARS § 4-244(34) and ARS § 4-246(B)), Class 1 Misdemeanor; companion civil traffic count in a separate case |
| Presumptive exposure | Up to 180 days jail, up to $2,500 fine plus surcharges, up to 5 years probation, mandatory 2-year MVD license suspension under ARS § 28-3322, Victim Impact Panel, permanent criminal record |
| Result | $491 in fines and assessments, VIP completion, no jail, no probation; companion civil traffic case set aside and consolidated |
| Eligibility for set aside | Approximately 2023 under ARS § 13-905, after the 2-year license suspension completes |
| Eligibility for sealing | Approximately 2026 under ARS § 13-911, three years after sentence completion |
The stakes
The client faced a Class 1 Misdemeanor for Operating a Vehicle with Spirituous Liquor in Body while Under 21 under ARS §§ 4-244(34) and 4-246(B) at Arrowhead Justice Court, plus a companion civil traffic count filed in a separate case.
Class 1 Misdemeanor underage alcohol-and-driving exposure runs up to 180 days jail, up to $2,500 fine plus surcharges, up to 5 years probation, a mandatory 2-year MVD license suspension under ARS § 28-3322, Victim Impact Panel attendance, and a permanent criminal record affecting employment, housing, and licensing.
What we did
After Future First negotiated the plea and pressed the State on the case file, the disposition came in at $491 in fines and assessments (inclusive of all surcharges), Victim Impact Panel completion, no jail, and no probation.
The firm also worked the companion civil traffic case, which was set aside by court ruling and consolidated with the criminal matter. The client avoided 6 months of jail exposure and roughly $2,000 in fines beyond the minimum. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 is eligible approximately 2023 once the 2-year license suspension completes. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 is eligible approximately 2026, three years after sentence completion.
What our clients say
Future First Criminal Law has earned hundreds of five-star reviews from clients across Arizona. Read our verified Google reviews or see what past clients have said on our client reviews page.
If you’re facing an underage alcohol charge in Arizona
Arizona’s underage drinking-and-driving statutes operate parallel to the standard DUI framework but with their own quirks. ARS § 4-244(34) prohibits a person under 21 from driving or being in physical control of a vehicle with any spirituous liquor in the body. The statute requires no specific BAC threshold. Any measurable alcohol is enough.
The collateral consequences are heavier than most first-time offenders expect. ARS § 28-3322 imposes a mandatory 2-year MVD license suspension on conviction. The Victim Impact Panel attendance requirement runs separately from any standard DUI program. The lifetime criminal record affects future employment, professional licensing, and immigration status for non-citizens.
Defense work on underage alcohol cases targets two parallel paths. First, minimizing the criminal-side disposition (fine instead of jail, no probation). Second, handling the MVD-side license action which runs administratively independent of the criminal case. When the criminal case resolves cleanly and the MVD process is managed in parallel, the long-term impact stays contained.
Future First Criminal Law has handled underage alcohol cases across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how Arrowhead Justice Court and other justice courts handle these charges, and how to position the case for the lightest possible criminal disposition.
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 conviction
Call us
Facing an underage alcohol charge in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of alcohol-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 underage alcohol law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.