Criminal speeding charges in Maricopa County carry a Class 3 misdemeanor criminal record, jail risk, and insurance consequences that last years. Derek Oliverson defends criminal speeding cases across Maricopa County’s courts and highways, fighting to reduce charges to civil traffic violations. Call (480) 582-3637 for a free case review.
Maricopa Criminal Speeding Attorney
Maricopa County’s court system handles criminal speeding charges — a Class 3 misdemeanor triggered by exceeding 85 mph, going 20+ mph over the posted limit, or exceeding 35 mph in a school zone through the largest Superior Court system in Arizona with over 90 judges, handling cases across multiple courthouse locations including the Central Court Building in downtown Phoenix and the Southeast Facility in Mesa. With a population of 4.5 million residents spread across 9,224 square miles, Maricopa County is Arizona’s most populous county, home to over 60% of the state’s population, spanning from the Sonoran Desert to urban sprawl across the Salt River Valley.
The Maricopa County Superior Court, 201 W Jefferson St, Phoenix is the primary venue for felony criminal speeding cases in the county. Municipal courts across Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear handle misdemeanor charges within their jurisdictions. Derek Oliverson maintains active caseloads across these courts and understands the procedural differences between each venue.
Oliverson Law’s Tempe headquarters sits in the heart of Maricopa County, with additional offices in Phoenix (2375 E Camelback Rd) and Gilbert (1760 E Pecos Rd). Derek appears regularly in Maricopa County courts and has established working relationships with prosecutors and court staff throughout the county.
Phoenix PD, Scottsdale PD, Mesa PD, Tempe PD, Chandler PD, Gilbert PD, Glendale PD, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and Arizona DPS all operate within the county. Each agency has its own enforcement priorities and arrest procedures, which directly impact how criminal speeding cases are investigated and prosecuted in Maricopa County.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felony criminal speeding cases, while city prosecutors handle misdemeanor charges. Understanding which prosecutor’s office will handle your case — and their typical approach to criminal speeding charges — is critical to building an effective defense strategy in Maricopa County.
Speed detection equipment must be properly calibrated and maintained. Derek subpoenas calibration certificates, maintenance logs, and operator training records for the specific radar or LIDAR unit used in your stop — expired calibrations or improperly trained operators can invalidate the speed reading.
Arizona law requires speed limits to be based on engineering and traffic surveys. If the posted limit has not been surveyed in accordance with DOT standards, the speed zone itself may be invalid. Derek investigates whether the speed limit where you were cited is legally enforceable.
Modern vehicles with GPS tracking and dashcam footage can provide independent speed verification. Derek uses vehicle data, GPS logs, and any available video evidence to challenge the officer’s speed reading when discrepancies exist.
The primary goal in criminal speeding defense is reducing the charge from criminal (Class 3 misdemeanor) to civil traffic violation. Derek negotiates with prosecutors to achieve civil traffic dispositions that avoid a criminal record, jail time, and the most severe insurance consequences.
From arrest to resolution, here is what happens when you call Oliverson Law.
Call (480) 582-3637 anytime. Derek reviews your Maricopa County arrest report, identifies which court has jurisdiction, and outlines defense options within 24 hours.
Derek investigates the evidence in your Maricopa County criminal speeding case — obtaining body camera footage, witness statements, and forensic evidence while identifying procedural violations specific to your jurisdiction.
Whether your case is in a Maricopa County municipal court or Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Derek negotiates aggressively for dismissal or reduction — and takes cases to trial when the evidence warrants it.
Answers specific to criminal speeding cases in Maricopa County courts.
Yes. Criminal speeding under ARS 28-701.02 is a Class 3 misdemeanor in Arizona — the same classification as other criminal offenses like assault and trespassing. If convicted in Maricopa County, you will have a criminal record that appears on background checks. Cases are processed through municipal courts across Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa or through Maricopa County Justice Courts. Derek Oliverson’s primary objective in every Maricopa County criminal speeding case is negotiating a reduction to a civil traffic violation, eliminating the criminal record and significantly reducing the long-term consequences.
Technically yes — a Class 3 misdemeanor carries up to 30 days in county jail. In practice, first-offense criminal speeding cases in Maricopa County rarely result in jail time if properly defended. However, judges in Maricopa County courts take criminal speeding seriously when speeds exceed 100 mph or when the offense occurs in a school zone. Without legal representation, some Maricopa County courts impose short jail sentences to send a message. Derek Oliverson has handled hundreds of criminal speeding cases across Arizona and works to ensure no client faces jail time for a speeding offense.
The direct fines for criminal speeding in Maricopa County typically range from $500-$1,000 including surcharges. But the real cost is far higher: a criminal record on background checks, 3 MVD points, insurance rate increases averaging 40-60% for 3-5 years, and potential employment consequences. The total financial impact of a criminal speeding conviction in Maricopa County can exceed $10,000 over five years when insurance increases are factored in. Hiring Derek Oliverson to fight the charge or negotiate a civil traffic reduction is a fraction of that cost.
Criminal speeding poses a severe threat to commercial driver’s license holders in Maricopa County. Arizona MVD reports criminal speeding convictions to the Commercial Driver License Information System (CDLIS), which can trigger a 60-day CDL disqualification for a first serious traffic violation and 120-day disqualification for a second within three years. For CDL holders cited for criminal speeding in Maricopa County, Derek Oliverson prioritizes keeping the conviction off your record entirely — a civil traffic reduction protects your CDL and your livelihood.
Yes, and this is the most common successful outcome when represented by an experienced attorney. In Maricopa County, Derek Oliverson negotiates with prosecutors to reduce criminal speeding (Class 3 misdemeanor) to a civil traffic violation such as ‘waste of a finite resource’ or a standard civil speeding citation. Civil traffic violations do not create a criminal record, carry no jail risk, and have significantly less impact on insurance rates. Success depends on your speed, driving history, and the specific Maricopa County court handling the case — Derek knows the tendencies of prosecutors across Maricopa County.
With 20+ courts across Maricopa County, you need an attorney who knows the local prosecutors, judges, and procedures. Derek has handled thousands of cases across the county. Call now for a free, confidential evaluation.
