A Class 2 Misdemeanor Reckless Driving plus a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding plus a No Valid License civil violation at University Lakes Justice Court carried stacked exposure across two permanent misdemeanors. Future First got the Reckless Driving count dismissed and resolved the case to a single lower C3M Criminal Speeding count plus the civil license violation.
At a glance
| Court | University Lakes Justice Court |
| Original charges | Reckless Driving (ARS § 28-693(A)), Class 2 Misdemeanor; Criminal Speeding – Exceed Posted Speed More than 20 mph Over (ARS § 28-701.02(A)(3)), Class 3 Misdemeanor; No Valid Driver License (ARS § 28-3151(A)), civil traffic violation |
| Presumptive exposure | Up to four months jail on the C2M under ARS § 13-707, up to 30 days jail on the C3M, combined fines up to $1,500 plus 84 percent surcharges, supervised probation up to two years on the C2M, mandatory MVD points and an 8-point violation flag, significant insurance rate increases, a two-year arrest record sealing wait under ARS § 13-911 on the C2M, and two permanent misdemeanor convictions on the record that surface on every employment, housing, professional licensing, and immigration background screen |
| Result | State dismissed the Class 2 Misdemeanor Reckless Driving count; client pled to a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding count under ARS § 28-701.02(A)(3) plus the No Valid License civil violation; $433 total fines; no jail; no probation |
| Eligibility for set aside | Immediately upon fine payment under ARS § 13-905 |
| Eligibility for sealing | Approximately 2026 under ARS § 13-911, one year after C3M punishment completion, with the public-record imprint dropped from Reckless Driving to Criminal Speeding |
The stakes
The client faced a Class 2 Misdemeanor Reckless Driving charge under ARS § 28-693(A), a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding charge under ARS § 28-701.02(A)(3), and a No Valid Driver License civil violation under ARS § 28-3151 in University Lakes Justice Court. Stacked C2M and C3M convictions would have meant up to four months jail on the C2M under ARS § 13-707, up to 30 days on the C3M, combined fines up to $1,500 plus 84 percent surcharges, supervised probation up to two years on the C2M, mandatory MVD points and an 8-point violation flag, significant insurance rate increases, a two-year arrest record sealing wait under ARS § 13-911 on the C2M, and two permanent misdemeanor convictions on the record that surface on every employment, housing, professional licensing, and immigration background screen.
What we did
Future First negotiated the case down by getting the Class 2 Misdemeanor Reckless Driving count dismissed and the client pled to a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding count under ARS § 28-701.02(A)(3) plus the No Valid License civil violation. The client paid $433 in total fines. No jail. No probation. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 available immediately upon fine payment. Arrest record sealing under ARS § 13-911 eligible approximately 2026, one year after C3M punishment completion, with the public-record imprint dropped from Reckless Driving to Criminal Speeding.
What our clients say
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If you’re facing Reckless Driving in Arizona
Reckless Driving under ARS § 28-693(A) is a Class 2 Misdemeanor and the highest-class non-DUI traffic offense in Arizona. The conviction carries a permanent reckless-driving stripe on the record that surfaces on every employment, housing, professional licensing, and insurance background screen. Auto insurers treat a C2M Reckless Driving conviction the same way they treat a DUI in their risk-pricing models, which drives significant long-term premium increases.
Substituting a Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Speeding plea for the Reckless Driving charge is the standard defense outcome short of full dismissal. C3M Criminal Speeding under § 28-701.02 keeps the conviction in the traffic-violation category but at the lowest misdemeanor class. The sealing wait drops from two years to one. The insurance impact is significantly lower. The record imprint is “criminal speeding” rather than “reckless driving.”
The No Valid License civil violation handled as a civil traffic disposition keeps that piece off the criminal record entirely.
Future First Criminal Law has handled Reckless Driving cases across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how University Lakes Justice Court and other county justice courts evaluate Reckless Driving plea-down negotiations.
Related resources
- Arizona criminal defense — misdemeanor defense strategy
- Set aside and sealing in Arizona — how to clean up your record
Call us
Facing Reckless Driving in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-932-7890 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of Arizona criminal traffic cases. 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 criminal law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.