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Three stacked criminal counts at University Lakes Justice Court (two Class 1 Misdemeanor DUI counts plus a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding for exceeding 85 mph) could have produced 390 days of combined jail exposure. Future First collapsed all three counts into a single Reckless Driving Class 2 Misdemeanor with no DUI conviction.
At a glance
| Court | University Lakes Justice Court |
| Original charges | DUI Impaired to the Slightest Degree (ARS § 28-1381(A)(1)), Class 1 Misdemeanor; DUI BAC .08 or More (ARS § 28-1381(A)(2)), Class 1 Misdemeanor; Criminal Speeding – Exceed 85 mph (ARS § 28-701.02(A)(3)), Class 3 Misdemeanor |
| Combined presumptive exposure | Up to 390 days jail (180 on each C1M DUI plus 30 on the C3M speeding), fines and assessments up to $5,500 plus surcharges, 12-month MVD ignition interlock on a DUI conviction, MADD victim impact panel, alcohol screening and counseling, license suspension, 3 MVD points, up to 5 years probation |
| Result | State amended lead charges to single Reckless Driving (ARS § 28-693(A)), Class 2 Misdemeanor; all three original counts dismissed; no DUI conviction |
| Eligibility for set aside | Eligible after sentence completion under ARS § 13-905 |
| Eligibility for sealing | Approximately 2023 under ARS § 13-911 (Class 2 Misdemeanor 2-year wait) |
The stakes
The client faced three criminal counts at University Lakes Justice Court: a Class 1 Misdemeanor DUI Impaired under ARS § 28-1381(A)(1), a Class 1 Misdemeanor DUI BAC under ARS § 28-1381(A)(2), and a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding (Exceed 85 mph) under ARS § 28-701.02(A)(3).
Combined exposure ran up to 390 days jail, fines and assessments up to $5,500 plus surcharges, a 12-month MVD ignition interlock on a DUI conviction, MADD victim impact panel, alcohol screening and counseling, license suspension, MVD points, and probation up to 5 years. A DUI conviction also carries lifetime collateral consequences for employment, insurance, and licensing.
What we did
After Future First negotiated the plea and pressed the State on its proof, the State amended the lead charges down from two DUI counts and Criminal Speeding to a single Reckless Driving count under ARS § 28-693(A), Class 2 Misdemeanor. The two DUI counts and the Criminal Speeding count were dismissed.
The client pled to Reckless Driving with no DUI conviction. The firm kept the record clean of any DUI and pulled the case down to a Class 2 traffic misdemeanor. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 is eligible after sentence completion. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 is eligible approximately 2023, two years after sentence completion under the Class 2 Misdemeanor wait.
What our clients say
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If you’re facing a multi-count DUI in Arizona
Arizona DUI stops frequently produce multiple criminal counts from a single incident. The State stacks the impairment count under § 28-1381(A)(1), the per-se BAC count under § 28-1381(A)(2), and any companion criminal traffic counts (Criminal Speeding under § 28-701.02 is one of the most common). Each count adds separate jail exposure, fine exposure, and license-points exposure.
Collapsing three counts into a single Reckless Driving Class 2 Misdemeanor under § 28-693(A) is the strongest negotiated outcome short of dismissal. Reckless Driving has no IID requirement, no MADD panel, no specific licensure flag, and a shorter sealing wait than any DUI tier. Getting there requires defense work that identifies real proof problems on the lead DUI counts (BAC chemistry issues, field sobriety inconsistencies, deprivation-period timing concerns) and pressure on the State that makes the amendment a credible alternative to taking the case to trial.
Future First Criminal Law has handled multi-count DUI cases across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how University Lakes Justice Court and other justice courts evaluate Reckless Driving amendments, and how to position a stacked case for the cleanest possible outcome.
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 or reckless driving conviction
Call us
Facing a multi-count DUI in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 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.