Scottsdale Criminal Speed Lawyer

One of the lesser-known criminal traffic violations in Arizona is Criminal Speed, also known as Excessive speed. In addition to Arizona being classifying many speeding violations as criminal, Scottsdale has a well-known reputation for being one of the strictest speed enforcement locales in the United States, so it’s important to understand the speeding statute and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

If you have been cited for criminal speed in city limits of Scottsdale, your case was most likely assigned to one of the following courts: Scottsdale City Court or Maricopa County Superior Court. Whichever court has jurisdiction over, the experienced Scottsdale Criminal Speed lawyers at the Law Offices of Brandon White are equipped to fight for the best outcome possible. Call a reliable defense attorney now.

What is Criminal Speeding?

If you’re looking for laws that cover all transportation-related issues, look no further than Title 28 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. A.R.S. § 28-701.02, the excessive speed statute, states that there are a few circumstances under which you can be cited for criminal speed:

• Driving above 35 mph in a school zone, or
• Driving 20 miles above the speed limit in a residential or business area (or at 45 mph if there isn’t a posted limit), or
• Driving at 20 mph above the posted speed limit, or
• Driving at 85 mph or above on any road

However, it is important to remember that it is up to an officer’s discretion whether you are actually cited for civil or criminal speed.

What are the Possible Consequences for Criminal Speed?

According to the statute, a person who is convicted of excessive speed is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor, which has a maximum term of 30 days in jail, $500 in fines, and up to a year of probation. However, if you are charged with criminal speed, you cannot be cited for a civil speeding violation in addition to your existing case. Now it’s important to remember that this does mean that everyone gets the max penalty, this only means that the level of misdemeanor that criminal speed is, is eligible for up to that max. However, because the mere risk of having a life-long criminal record all over a traffic ticket, encourages many drivers to seek out a knowledgeable traffic attorney to help them navigate this.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself

In many cases, speeding can happen absentmindedly, especially when speed limits are near 75-80 mph, making it easier to slowly inch past the 85 mph speed limit. However, some simple tricks can help you stay beneath the limit, such as:

• Driving with cruise control on whenever possible: this way, you will never exceed the speed set by your car’s computer
• Use speed alert systems: many cars have inbuilt functions that notify the driver when their speed exceeds the amount that the driver set an alert for
• Make sure to check your speedometer: while it may seem obvious, a quick glance at your speedometer when safe can help prevent unintentional acceleration

In the case that you are cited for criminal speed, an experienced Scottsdale Excessive Speed Attorney can help you understand your case and protect your rights throughout the process including negotiating with the prosecuting attorney assigned to your case.

Call a Scottsdale Criminal Speed Attorney Today

Depending on the case, poor police investigation, typos, officers failing to calibrate speed-recording measurement, or your location at the time of the stop can all potentially make a big difference in your case, and our team of former prosecutors can help you by using such evidence in your case. Contact the Scottsdale criminal Speed Lawyers at the Law Offices of Brandon White for a free 20-minute strategy session today!