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What Is A Reckless Driving Charge In Arizona?

Reckless driving in Arizona is considered as one of the more serious misdemeanor offenses. The crime is codified in section 28-693 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and it can either be a class 1 or class 2 misdemeanor.

When someone is charged with a first time reckless driving offense, they are facing a class 2 misdemeanor, which has a maximum penalty of four months in jail and $750 fine under the statute. The offender may also be facing additional consequences such as points on their driver’s license. Reckless driving is considered a serious moving violation and places 8 points on the person’s driver’s license. The person is also required to complete Traffic Survival School.

A.R.S. 28-693 states the following regarding the crime of Reckless driving:

A person who drives a vehicle in a reckless manner, with complete disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.

A person who is convicted of a reckless driving charge is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

If someone is convicted of reckless driving, the judge may require them to surrender any driving license to a police officer and report the conviction to the department. The driving privileges of the convicted may even be suspended for a maximum period of 90 days. Once the abstract of conviction and order is received, the driving privilege of the person shall be suspended for the period of time ordered by the judge.

Anyone convicted of a violation of section 28-693, who has a previous conviction of a violation of section 28-693, , section 13-1102, or section 13-1103, subsection A, paragraph 1 in the driving of a vehicle, or section 28-708, 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 within a period of twenty-four months, then the following will apply:

  • The person will be considered guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
  • The person will not be eligible for a probation, pardon, suspension, or a release on any basis unless they have served at least 20 days in jail.
  • The person will be required to surrender any driver license to a police officer and immediately forward the abstract of conviction to the department.
  • Once the abstract of conviction is received, the department shall revoke the driving privilege of the person.

The determining factor in applying subsection D of section 28-693 will depend on the dates of commission of the offense. A second or subsequent violation for which a conviction occurs as provided in section 28-693 does not include a conviction for an offense arising out of the same series of acts.

If the court receives confirmation after the pronouncement of a jail sentence that the person is employed or is a student, the court may allow the defendant to continue employment or schooling for a maximum of 5 days a week, maximum of 12 hours per day. The defendant will have to serve the remaining time of the day in jail until the sentence is served. The defendant will only be allowed to go out of jail long enough to complete their actual hours of employment or schooling.

So the crime of reckless driving in Arizona carries heavy consequences and can include fines, jail time, as well as driver’s license suspension. However, the jail sentence is merely discretionary in a reckless driving charge, unlike in a DUI conviction, which means that a person convicted of reckless driving in Arizona will not have to serve time in jail necessarily.

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Brian Douglas Sloan

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Why DUI Attorney Brian Douglas Sloan?

19+

19+ Years SOLELY Focused on DUI Defense

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4,200+ DUIs Successfully Defended

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  • Only DUI "Power Lawyer" in the Nation Featured in USA Today, 2022

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“I am one of only a handful of Phoenix DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.”

I have spent my entire career SOLELY focused on Arizona DUI Defense Representation, having personally defended more than 4,400 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) clients in the past 19+ years.

If you’re looking for a Divorce Attorney, Tax Attorney, Civil Attorney, etc., I can comfortably say, "I’m not the one for you." I ONLY defend DUI cases in most of Maricopa County, Arizona.

Coming up with traditional, as well as outside-the-box motions and defenses for my clients, often with good results, is the hallmark of my practice.

Lawyers that say they are "aggressive" or "will fight for you" are a dime a dozen. They use these phrases because it is a proven advertising phrase. Being "aggressive" isn’t the same as being good, and is often used to put on a show to hide the fact that they aren’t doing anything meaningful for the client.

The same is true for the Lawyers claiming to do DUI Defense, and Criminal Cases, and Accident Cases, and Divorces, etc. A Jack-of-all-Trades is a master of none! By handling all sorts of cases, they take away from their ability to truly focus on DUIs, and keep up-to-date on the latest changes in DUI Defense Representation.

What I offer is intelligent, quality DUI Defense at an exceptional price. Unlike many other law firms, if you hire The Law Offices of Brian D. Sloan, you actually get me representing you, doing all the work, and working the case. You aren’t hiring one guy with all the experience, but getting the underling with very little knowledge or experience.

I work seven days a week on my client’s cases, and spend hours laying all my thoughts out for my clients in writing, so they can understand their options, and my recommendations. No other DUI Lawyer in the state does this. I try to do what I can to go above-and-beyond for my clients. I hate when the businesses I deal with nickel-and-dime me with hidden costs, and I take pride in not doing that to my clients.

I have not only taught other lawyers how to do DUI Defense Representation at statewide seminars, but I have produced DUI Legal Guides used by defense lawyers across Arizona.

I am one of Arizona's most award-winning DUI Defense Lawyers, as well as being recognized nationally. I was the only DUI Defense Lawyer in the United States named a "Power Lawyer" in a 2022 issue of USA Today

There are no other private Lawyers in Arizona that have personally defended more DUI cases than I have. And as a bonus, I offer a very reasonable flat rate for my legal services, with a payment plan, and without any hidden charges. This guarantees that I offer some of the most competitive rates among all Arizona DUI Attorneys, while being a well-documented and preeminent leader in the field of DUI Defense Representation.

Over the years, countless people have come to me after discovering that their first lawyer made a mistake, gave them false hope or false promises, or simply took their money and didn't do much to advance their case. And you would be surprised at how often this happens.

So, instead of wasting time and money on the wrong DUI Defense Attorney, do yourself a favor and get the proven and well-recognized best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix and the surrounding areas of Maricopa County.

You can reach me on my personal cell phone at 480-720-7839 for a Free ‘In Depth’ Consultation.

I personally defend DUI cases in urban Maricopa County City, Town, and Justice Courts, including:

Ahwatukee / Agua Fria / Arcadia Biltmore / Avondale / Buckeye / Chandler / Country Meadows / Desert Ridge / Dreamy Draw / Downtown / East Mesa / El Centro / Encanto / Gilbert / Glendale / Goodyear / Guadalupe / Highland / Kyrene / Litchfield Park / Maryvale / McDowell Mountain / Mesa / Moon Valley / North Mesa / Peoria / Phoenix / Queen Creek / San Marcos / San Tan / South Mountain / Scottsdale / Tempe / University Lakes / West McDowell / West Mesa / White Tank

For any other Courts in the State of Arizona, including Felony cases, I would recommend my associates on The Arizona DUI Team, whom I work closely with, but I am not the one personally representing the client.


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Brian Douglas Sloan

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