What Should You Do If You Get a Criminal Speeding Ticket In Arizona

How To Resolve a Traffic Ticket After An Infraction

Although most speeding tickets are given for relatively minor violations, known as civil speeding violations, some tickets are given for criminal speeding offenses. A criminal speeding ticket is a misdemeanor offense and much more severe than a civil speeding violation. According to Arizona state statutes, a criminal speeding conviction can result in up to 30 days in jail and up to $500 in fines.

If you’ve received a ticket for criminal speeding in Arizona, consult with an experienced Apache Junction criminal defense attorney who can provide trusted legal advice that will help resolve your case and minimize the effects of a conviction.

Criteria For Criminal Speeding Tickets In Arizona

There are four violations that are considered criminal speeding in Arizona:

• Speeds exceeding 85 miles per hour
• Driving more than 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit
• Exceeding 35 miles per hour in a school zone
• Exceeding 45 miles per hour in a zone where there is no posted speed limit

What Are The Penalties For Criminal Speeding In Arizona?

Although the penalties may vary depending upon the circumstances, the person’s driving history, and the discretion of court officials, a conviction of criminal speeding is punishable by law with:

• Up to 30 days of jail
• A fine of up to $500 plus surcharges
• Up to one year of probation
• Mandatory community service

A conviction will likely also lead to other consequences, which include:

• A permanent criminal record that cannot be expunged
• Three point violation added to the driver’s license
• A significant increase in auto insurance premiums
• Suspension of driver’s license
• Loss of commercial driver’s license (CDL), if applicable
• Loss of security clearances, if applicable
• Requirement to disclose the criminal conviction on applications for employment and housing

Speeding Point Violations in Arizona

Arizona’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) utilizes a point system to determine who is eligible for driver’s license privileges. Criminal speeding is a three point violation. When a driver accumulates eight points, consequences include mandatory traffic survival, school attendance, or driver’s license suspension. Violations from out-of-state drivers will be reported to the driver’s local motor vehicle division, which can lead to additional consequences for drivers who are not Arizona residents.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Criminal Speeding Ticket In Arizona?

If you’ve been given a criminal speeding ticket, consult immediately with a Chandler criminal defense lawyer who can guide you through the proceedings that will follow. This includes court appearances, conferences with the prosecutor, and negotiation. If negotiation is unsuccessful, the case will proceed to a bench trial.

How Can a Criminal Defense Lawyer Help With a Criminal Speeding Violation?

Your Gilbert criminal defense attorney will work on your behalf to provide representation and defense in order to minimize the consequences of the criminal speeding violation. The most common ways your criminal defense attorney can help your case include reducing penalties and/or monetary fines or reducing the criminal speeding charge to a civil traffic violation. In some cases, your attorney may be able to get the charge dismissed.

Your Mesa criminal defense law firm may be able to argue against the way the law enforcement officer made their speed calculations. This is because several factors can distort the accuracy of the calculations. Refraction as a result of Arizona heat is a very common issue. Police misuse also heavily contributes to inaccurate charges of speeding, such as how the officer holds the laser detector, which direction it’s pointed, where on the vehicle it is pointed, and other crucial factors of how the detector is used. Perception can be limited, and even small changes in the speed can affect the outcome. “Sweeping,” which is caused by an officer’s motions while targeting a vehicle, can also result in a false reading that may be questioned in proceedings. All of these errors are potentially open to questioning in proceedings.

Ultimately, if you’ve been charged with criminal speeding, the guidance of a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced with speeding ticket violations will help you get the best possible outcome.

Other Options After Criminal Speeding In Arizona

One potential resolution to criminal speed charges is for your lawyer to attempt to persuade the court to resolve your case by completion of defensive driving school. This will keep the criminal traffic violation off of your driving record and may also prevent a conviction. One potential downside of this option is that you must not have completed defensive driving school within the previous year, or you will be ineligible.

Completion of defensive driving school is at the court’s discretion and may not be an option for everyone, so representation from a Queen Creek criminal defense attorney to plead for leniency on your behalf is crucial.

Get Legal Representation For Criminal Speeding In Arizona

If you’ve received a criminal speeding ticket, contact Dove Law Firm for your free and confidential consultation. We have extensive experience handling all types of criminal traffic violations in Arizona and will provide a defense specialized to your situation. Dove Law Firm offers flat fee services with affordable repayment plans if needed. Let us help you resolve your criminal speeding ticket. Contact us today to schedule your case review!