An Extreme DUI charge at West Mesa Justice Court would have triggered 9 actual jail days plus a 12-month judge-ordered IID. Future First pulled the case out of the Extreme tier, negotiated a standard DUI plea, and secured $608 in jail-cost savings on top of the tier reduction.

At a glance

Court	West Mesa Justice Court
Original charge	Extreme DUI (ARS § 28-1382), Class 1 Misdemeanor
Presumptive exposure (Extreme tier)	30 days mandatory jail with 21 days suspendable on ignition interlock compliance (9 actual days at the floor), fines and assessments around $2,743, 12-month judge-ordered ignition interlock, MADD victim impact panel, alcohol screening and counseling, license suspension
Result	State amended lead charge down from Extreme DUI to standard DUI Slightest Degree under ARS § 28-1381(A)(1); plea with 1st-offense mandatory minimum: 1 day jail, 9 days suspended on counseling completion, ~$2,104 in fines (with $608 in jail-cost savings), no court-ordered IID, no probation
Jail days saved	8 days below Extreme floor
Eligibility for sealing	Approximately 2027 under ARS § 13-911, three years after counseling completion

The stakes

The client faced an Extreme DUI charge under ARS § 28-1382 at West Mesa Justice Court. An Extreme DUI conviction in Arizona carries 30 days of mandatory jail with 21 days suspendable on ignition interlock compliance (9 days actual at the floor), fines and assessments around $2,743, a 12-month judge-ordered ignition interlock, MADD victim impact panel, alcohol screening and counseling, and a license suspension.

What we did

After Future First negotiated the plea, the State amended the lead charge down from Extreme DUI to standard DUI Slightest Degree under ARS § 28-1381(A)(1). The client pled to the standard DUI tier with 1st-offense mandatory minimum: 1 day jail, 9 days suspended on counseling completion, ~$2,104 in fines (with $608 in jail-cost savings), no court-ordered IID, and no probation.

The firm pulled the case out of the Extreme DUI tier, saving 8 actual jail days from the Extreme floor and roughly $640 in additional fines. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 is eligible after sentence completion. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 is eligible approximately 2027, three years after counseling completion.

What the client said

I would just like to express the life changing help and support I received from the legal team at Future First! The endless hours and resources spent by these legal professionals really made a significant impact on my life. I’m so grateful for the help of the legal system and experts whom treated my case like it was their own. I truly know that they can do the same for you! Thanks again to everyone at Future First, words can’t even begin to express my gratitude for getting me the best possible outcome! Happy holidays. I’m happy to be spending mine with friends and family while continuing to be a contributing member of society.

— Verified Google review

If you’re facing an Extreme DUI in Arizona

Jail-cost reimbursement is the practical layer on top of any DUI sentence. Arizona jails bill defendants for actual incarceration costs. The first day costs significantly more than subsequent days because of intake processing. A standard 1-day-actual sentence still produces a meaningful jail bill. Defense work that negotiates jail-cost reimbursement down can save the client hundreds of dollars on top of the sentence reduction itself.

Pulling an Extreme DUI down to a standard DUI under § 28-1381(A)(1) eliminates the 30-day mandatory jail floor, the 12-month judge-ordered ignition interlock, and the higher fine package. When the State also agrees to leave IID with MVD’s administrative process rather than imposing it through the court, the IID timeline is generally shorter.

Future First Criminal Law has handled Extreme DUI tier-reduction cases across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how West Mesa Justice Court and other justice courts evaluate impairment-proof challenges, and how to negotiate jail-cost savings alongside the tier reduction.

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 an Extreme 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.