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Penalties for Phoenix Vehicular Crimes in Arizona.
Depending on the charge stemming from a motor vehicle crime, you may be facing a felony or misdemeanor charge under Arizona law.
Both misdemeanors and felonies carry serious consequences, including imprisonment. The underlying charged may be enhanced If the charge qualifies as a “dangerous offense”, as defined by A.R.S. §13-105(13). An offense will qualify as a dangerous offense if it involves the discharge or use of a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, or the international or knowing infliction of serious injury. Penalties may be further increased if you have any prior felony convictions and if any of those prior convictions were “dangerous offenses”.
Petty Offenses and Misdemeanors
The least severe type of crime is classified as a petty offense. These types of crimes do not have any jail time or term of probation term. However, these charges do carry a fine of up to $300.
The lowest class of misdemeanor is a class three misdemeanor. The potential penalties for this type of misdemeanor are: thirty days jail, $500 fine, and one year of probation.
A class two misdemeanor carries more serious consequences than a class three, including an increase in jail time. If convicted of Failure to Comply with Police, this is the class of misdemeanor you will be facing. The potential penalties for this type of misdemeanor are: four months jail, $750 fine, and two years probation.
A class one misdemeanor is the most serious classification of misdemeanor. If charged with misdemeanor Leaving the Scene of an Accident or Vehicular Endangerment, this will be the class of misdemeanor you are facing. The potential penalties for this type of misdemeanor are: six months jail, $2,500 fine, and three years of probation.
Felonies
A class six felony is the lowest classification of felony. However, the real-life consequences of having a felony conviction are not mitigated by the class of felony and will still impact you for the rest of your life. Felony vehicle endangerment and Aggravated DUI due to having a child under the age of 15 in the vehicle are class six felonies. The potential penalties for a class six felony are: one and a half years in the department of corrections, three years probation, and a $150,000 fine.
If charged with Unlawful Flight from Police, you will be facing a class five felony. The potential penalties for this class of felony are: two years in the department of corrections, three years probation, and a $150,000 fine.
If charged with Vehicular Negligent Homicide or Aggravated DUI by means of other than having a child under 15 in the vehicle, you are facing a class four felony. The potential penalties for this type of felony are: three years in the department of corrections, four years probation, and a $150,000 fine. It is also possible that enhanced penalties for a “dangerous offense” are imposed.
If charged with Vehicular Aggravated Assault, you will likely be facing a class three felony if the victim is not a police officer. The potential penalties for a class three felony are: seven years in the department of corrections, five years probation, and $150,000 fine. Given the nature of the charge, it is likely that the prosecution will enhance the penalties by categorizing the charge as a “dangerous offense”.
If you are charged with Vehicular Aggravated Assault, where the victim is a Police Officer, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, or Vehicular Manslaughter, you will be facing a class two felony. The potential penalties for this type of penalty are very serious: 10 years in the department of corrections, seven years probation, and $150,000 fine. Given the nature of these charges, it is likely the prosecution will enhance the sentence by categorizing it as a “dangerous offense”.
A class one felony is the most severe type of felony. In Arizona, only first and second-degree murder are class one felonies.
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