Criminal Speeding
Founding Principal Owner Christopher P. Corso and top Arizona criminal speeding lawyer is a firm believer that no person should retain a criminal conviction for speeding! It is one of his passions to fight and advocate for individuals charged with Criminal Speeding. As a former supervising prosecutor, he attempted to effectuate change from within, and for over a decade has continued the battle as a traffic violation attorney. He is bound and determined to make a change, one case, and one win at a time.
Many people don’t realize that there is a level of speeding that crosses over from the realm of a civil penalty and into criminal activity. The vast majority of speeding tickets are simple traffic citations, with a fine as punishment for going over the posted speed limit in the area. Occasionally, police impose a far more serious charge – criminal speeding. This crime is a class 3 misdemeanor in Arizona. As soon as police issue this charge against you, call on Corso Law Group. Our criminal defense team can help you in your time of need.
What Is Criminal Speeding in Arizona?
When most people think of getting pulled over for speeding, they imagine going a little too fast when a cop happened to be nearby. This is the norm, and will not result in anything more than a traffic ticket with a fine. Unless you or someone you know has dealt with criminal speeding penalties, you may not have known it was even a possibility. In Arizona, police can charge a driver with criminal speeding, or excessive speeding, if they commit any of the following:
- Drives faster than 35 miles per hour approaching an active school zone
- Exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour
- Exceeds 45 miles per hour if there is no speed limit sign posted
- Exceeds 85 miles per hour in all other locations
Driving under these conditions will lead to criminal charges for violation of Arizona Code Section 28-701. Whether intentional or not, police will issue a citation for criminal speeding. They do not need to prove intent – they must only show that you were driving at one of the above-mentioned speeds and conditions. Police dash cameras can serve as proof of your excessive speed. Once a court convicts you of criminal speeding, you could face a wide range of legal ramifications, from a simple fine to incarceration.
Don’t Face Excessive Speeding Charges Alone
Speeding may not seem like such a serious crime, especially if no one gets hurt. After all, many drivers have gone faster than 85 miles per hour on Arizona’s major highways, especially when the posted speed limit is 80 miles per hour, as is the case in some areas. In that instance, it is very easy to inch up to 85 miles per hour. However, law enforcement takes excessive speeding very seriously. A conviction can lead to a $500 fine, an 83% surcharge, up to 30 days in jail, one-year probation, three points on your driver’s license, increased insurance rates and getting your vehicle towed. Arrests for excessive speeding happen. It is important to note that defensive driving school is not available, unless it is negotiated with the judge. Corso Law Group has negotiated defensive driving school in thousands of cases. ONCE CONVICTED, THIS CRIME WILL REMAIN ON YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD FOREVER, AND CANNOT BE SET ASIDE OR EXPUNGED.
The state of Arizona makes it impossible for a driver to expunge a criminal speeding record. That means it’s part of public record forever. A conviction for excessive speeding can make it difficult to find work, especially at jobs that require employees to drive. Having a prior criminal record can lead to jail time or other consequences after a citation for criminal speeding. The best way to safeguard yourself in this scenario is to retain an Arizona criminal speeding lawyer in Arizona from Corso Law Group. Schedule a consultation with us to hear our professional advice regarding your specific situation in Arizona. Our team of experienced lawyers will be able to help you mitigate the charges and reduce your penalties.
