Initial appearance court (Intake, Transfer and Release)
The first court date after an arrest, within 24 hours. Release conditions, including any no-contact order, are set here.
2670 S. 28th Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85009
Mesa DUI with a child passenger defense
DUI with a Child Passenger Lawyer in Mesa, AZ
The test result is where the review begins.
If you were arrested for DUI in Mesa with a child in the car, your family is likely your first worry and the case your second. Arizona treats the passenger's age as the fact that turns an ordinary DUI into a felony, so the County Attorney, not the city, now decides what comes next. The impairment and the age are separate questions, and the State has to prove both.
We can help. Nova Law Group was built by a former Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutor. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and we take a meticulous, aggressive approach, fighting from every angle, because the report is only one side of the story.
Talk to us before you talk to anyone else. Call (480) 405-6767. Consultations are free and confidential, and the earlier we are involved, the more we can do.
FounderRyan TaitFormer Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutorMeet Ryan →★ 5-star reviewsFormer felony prosecutorAvailable after hoursFlat fee on most criminal casesFree, confidential consultation
DUI with a Child Passenger Lawyer in Mesa, AZ
How a Mesa child passenger case leaves 1st Avenue
Alcohol levels
0.08 is DUI, 0.15 is extreme DUI and 0.20 is the top extreme tier, under A.R.S. § 28-1381 and § 28-1382.
MVD deadline
30 days to request a hearing on the license suspension, under A.R.S. § 28-1385.
City DUI
Most Mesa DUI cases are misdemeanors in Mesa Municipal Court, 250 E. 1st Ave.
Aggravated DUI
A felony under A.R.S. § 28-1383, prosecuted by the County Attorney in Superior Court in downtown Phoenix.
The stop itself is ordinary: a patrol officer or one of the Traffic Section's DUI officers makes the arrest on a city street; on the freeways crossing Mesa it is more often a trooper. A first DUI from a Mesa Police stop would ordinarily stay at Mesa Municipal Court, but a passenger under fifteen makes it a felony, and the City Prosecutor's page hands felonies committed in Mesa to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, whose Vehicular Crimes Bureau prosecutes impaired driving.
The department's own laboratory, which reports ANAB ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, tests blood for alcohol and drugs. When a Mesa sample goes there, charging can wait on the result, so weeks of quiet after a draw prove nothing.
After a booking, the Mesa Police holding facility processes the felony and passes the person on to the Sheriff's Intake, Transfer and Release center, whose Initial Appearance Court sits on South 28th Drive in Phoenix. Within the 24 hours Rule 4.1 allows, a judge there sets release terms or a bond. Counsel attaches on a felony, and the Sheriff's page says the court appoints a lawyer for anyone unable to pay. The case then moves to Superior Court in the downtown Phoenix criminal complex, the Central Court Building or the South Court Tower; confirm the building on your current notice.
The Superior Court's family department at 222 E. Javelina Ave. does not hear this felony, and neither does any justice court. If a custody case is open or likely, tell us early; words spoken in one courtroom can reach another.
Expect a tow as well. Probable cause for aggravated DUI generally means removal and impound or immobilization under § 28-3511(C), held for 20 days under subsection (E). Mesa Police release vehicles from headquarters at 59 S. Hibbert and take requests for post-storage hearings, which are generally held by phone.
The law
A.R.S. § 28-1383(A)(3), element by element
Under § 28-1383(A)(3), a DUI (§ 28-1381) or an extreme DUI (§ 28-1382) becomes aggravated DUI when it is committed while someone under fifteen is in the vehicle.
The base offenseSection 28-1381(A) covers driving or actual physical control when impaired to the slightest degree, at 0.08 or more within two hours, or with a listed drug or a metabolite of one in the body. Section 28-1382(A) sets the extreme tiers, 0.15 to under 0.20 and 0.20 or more, also measured within two hours.
The passengerA person younger than fifteen was in the vehicle. Injury, and the child's relationship to the driver, are not part of the test.
ClassA class 6 felony (§ 28-1383(O)(2)). For a first felony offense of that class, A.R.S. § 13-702(D) sets .33 to 2 years, with 1 year presumptive.
Custody floorThis form is missing from the four-month prison list in § 28-1383(D), though a judge may still order prison within the class range. Subsections (F) and (G) carry over the base offense's jail minimum. On a first offense that is ten consecutive days for a DUI (§ 28-1381(I)), and thirty, or forty-five at 0.20 and above, for an extreme DUI (§ 28-1382(D)).
LicenseMVD revokes, with no new license for a year after the conviction (§ 28-1383(J)(1)). For alcohol, A.R.S. § 28-3319(D) generally requires an interlock for twelve months over a regular DUI and twenty-four over an extreme one. Under § 28-1383(L), a person revoked for this form may apply for a special ignition interlock restricted license after the § 28-1385 suspension.
ProbationIt can run up to ten years on any aggravated DUI (A.R.S. § 13-902(B)(2)).
DUI with a Child Passenger Lawyer in Mesa, AZ
Where a Mesa child passenger case is tested
Avoiding jail is not the same as avoiding a conviction. A felony conviction suspends the rights to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury and possess a firearm (A.R.S. § 13-904(A)). Because a class 6 felony is punishable by up to two years, the federal firearm bar in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) can apply too. Some convictions are grounds for removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2), so anyone who is not a U.S. citizen should get immigration advice before a plea.
How the age was established
The State must prove the passenger was under fifteen. We look at who supplied the age at the roadside and whether anyone confirmed it.
The stop and the video
Traffic is one of the Mesa Police assignments listed as using body-worn cameras, so the reason for the stop and the field tests may be on video. We match the footage and the dispatch log against the report.
Stress is not impairment
Roadside tests done with a child watching can be skewed by fear, footwear, pavement, light and health.
The reading and its timing
A result must fall within two hours of driving, and sample handling matters. Landing below 0.15 rather than above it makes the base offense a regular DUI, with a lower jail floor and, for alcohol, a shorter interlock.
If the age cannot be proven
What is left is a DUI or an extreme DUI, a class 1 misdemeanor either way (§§ 28-1381(C), 28-1382(K)).
The law
Sources: Arizona statutes and Cornell Law School
Each statement of law on this page was read against one of these texts.
- § 28-1383, aggravated DUI with a passenger under fifteen (azleg.gov)
- § 28-1381, DUI and its first-offense jail floor (azleg.gov)
- § 28-1382, extreme DUI tiers (azleg.gov)
- § 28-1385, administrative suspension and the hearing request (azleg.gov)
- § 28-3319, interlock periods (azleg.gov)
- § 28-3511, vehicle removal and the 20-day hold (azleg.gov)
- § 13-702, first felony sentencing ranges (azleg.gov)
- § 13-902, probation terms (azleg.gov)
- § 13-904, civil rights after a felony (azleg.gov)
- Wex: driving under the influence (Cornell LII)
- 18 U.S.C. § 922, firearm possession limits (Cornell LII)
- 8 U.S.C. § 1227, deportable offenses (Cornell LII)
The charges
A felony prosecutor's view, now on the defense side
Nova Law Group was built by Ryan Tait, a former Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutor. The practice is criminal defense first. We keep caseloads deliberately low, which means the lawyers on your case have time to actually watch the video and read the reports line by line. We take cases to trial when trial is the right pressure. Overcharging happens, and a case that is genuinely prepared for trial changes the conversation with the prosecutor. Most criminal cases are quoted as a flat fee. Consultations are free and confidential.
Former felony prosecutorBuilt by a former Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutor.
Low caseloadsTime to watch the video and read the reports line by line.
Ready for trialA case prepared for trial changes the conversation with the prosecutor.
Flat feeMost criminal cases are quoted as a flat fee. Consultations are free and confidential.
Our office
Meet us on Camelback Road
Office: 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Suite C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Meetings are by appointment.
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Resources
Mesa courts and official links
Where a Mesa case is heard depends on the charge and the agency. Some courts are in Mesa and some are in downtown Phoenix. Each card has directions and the official website, so you can check details before you go.
Mesa Municipal Court
City misdemeanors, from arraignment to trial. Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Fridays. Public parking garage at 30 S. Pomeroy.
250 E. 1st Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210Maricopa County Superior Court, downtown
Felony cases prosecuted by the County Attorney. Confirm the building on your current notice.
Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., and South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003Southeast Justice Center
Home of the East Mesa, North Mesa, West Mesa and Highland Justice Courts. A misdemeanor reported by DPS or a Sheriff's deputy can land here. Your citation names the court.
222 E. Javelina Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210Laws cited on this page
- A.R.S. § 13-702, First time felony offenders; sentencing; definition
- A.R.S. § 28-3319, Action after license suspension, revocation or denial for driving under the influence or refusal of test
- A.R.S. § 13-902, Periods of probation; monitoring; fees
- A.R.S. § 13-904, Suspension of civil rights and occupational disabilities
- A.R.S. § 28-1383, Aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence; county jail program
- A.R.S. § 28-1381, Driving or actual physical control while under the influence; trial by jury; presumptions; admissible evidence
- A.R.S. § 28-1382, Driving or actual physical control while under the extreme influence of intoxicating liquor
- A.R.S. § 28-1385, Administrative license suspension for driving under the influence or for homicide or assault involving a motor vehicle
- A.R.S. § 28-3511, Removal and immobilization or impoundment of vehicle; Arizona crime information center database
Common questions
Mesa child passenger DUI questions
The statute looks only at presence. Section 28-1383(A)(3) applies whenever someone under fifteen rides along during a DUI or an extreme DUI, without regard to injury, risk or whose child it was. That does not make a conviction automatic: the State still has to prove the underlying DUI and the passenger's age with admissible evidence.
Because the charge is a felony. Mesa's City Prosecutor keeps misdemeanors and city code cases and sends felonies committed in the city to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Those are heard in Superior Court downtown, not at Mesa Municipal Court and not by the Javelina Avenue justice courts. Bring every notice, because the newest one says where to appear.
Not always. Section 28-3511(D) lets a registered, insured car leave with a companion who has a valid license, is not impaired and tells the officer they will drive it home or somewhere safe. If Mesa Police did tow it, headquarters on Hibbert handles releases Monday through Thursday, sometimes by appointment, and you can ask for a post-storage hearing.
Find the MVD notice. Under A.R.S. § 28-1385(G)(2)(c), a hearing request "must be received by the department within thirty days after the date of the notice," or the suspension becomes final. A felony pending downtown does not stop that clock. Once the suspension is served, § 28-1383(L) lets a person revoked for this offense seek a special interlock restricted license.
Client reviews
Hear What Our Clients Say
From our Google reviews, plus Yelp and Avvo. These are clients’ own words, reproduced from our review profiles.
★★★★★
“These guys are the best attorneys in all of Arizona. It is definitely the most professional group of lawyers… I recommend this firm!”
★★★★★
“Sydney was extremely thorough regarding every single detail of my criminal case… it ultimately resulted in a clear and powerful win for my case.”
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“They fought tirelessly for my case and helped me achieve a favorable outcome. Exceptional service and results.”
★★★★★
“The firm provided me with the most professional legal representation possible. Mr. Ryan Tait patiently explained… beyond my expectations.”
★★★★★
“The best law firm that I have ever dealt with. The amount of passion & commitment that they dedicated for my case… truly what separated them from other law firms.”
★★★★★
“Oh my goodness, our lawyer Ryan Tait was amazing. He does what he says he’s going to do. A very patient lawyer… He’s a miracle worker.”
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“I was being charged with a few felony counts and facing a few years in prison… I made the best choice of my life calling this law firm.”
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“…they reached out to one of their attorneys and confirmed my suspicions; I’ve been worried this whole time about criminal charges, they put my fears to rest. HIGHLY recommend them.”
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“Helpful and clear direction in a time of uncertainty. Highly recommended.”
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“Ryan Tait was amazing and really helpful. I would recommend him.”
★★★★★
“If you’re looking for a law group that truly cares about you and makes a difficult situation less stressful, these are your people… Alexis was my lawyer, and she was truly heaven-sent.”
★★★★★
“Alexis Brooks was my lawyer… She was extremely professional yet down to earth and always made me feel at ease and confident in my case. I would definitely recommend her for anyone that needs an excellent defense attorney.”
★★★★★
“Spectacular representation! Sydney was very compassionate, diligent and professional. I can’t recommend enough.”
★★★★★
“…Ryan and his team are kind, understanding, and very good listeners. Each member of his team was well educated, knowledgable and very professional.”
★★★★★
“We hired Mr. Tait to handle a legal affair for a member of our family. It was a complex criminal case that required over two years of work! Through the entire effort, Mr. Tait kept us informed…”
★★★★★
“My family hired Ryan Tait to fight for my family member… He went over all the pros and cons. He answered all our questions and calls. He knows what he is doing.”
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“Ryan is absolutely awesome and professional. He gave me all detailed advice I needed. He is nice and patient. I definitely recommend Ryan and his law firm!”
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“These guys are great!! They did a great job on my case, super consistent and helpful. Definitely will recommend them to anyone.”
★★★★★
“Excellent lawyers… and their honesty, and they helped me even though I do not live in Arizona.”
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Reseñas de clientes
Lo que dicen nuestros clientes
De nuestras reseñas en Google, además de Yelp y Avvo. Son las palabras de nuestros clientes, tomadas de nuestros perfiles de reseñas y traducidas del inglés.
★★★★★
“Son los mejores abogados de todo Arizona. Sin duda es el grupo de abogados más profesional… ¡Recomiendo esta firma!”
★★★★★
“Sydney fue sumamente minuciosa con cada detalle de mi caso penal… al final, eso resultó en una victoria clara y contundente para mi caso.”
★★★★★
“Lucharon incansablemente por mi caso y me ayudaron a lograr un resultado favorable. Servicio y resultados excepcionales.”
★★★★★
“La firma me brindó la representación legal más profesional posible. El Sr. Ryan Tait me explicó con paciencia… más allá de mis expectativas.”
★★★★★
“La mejor firma de abogados con la que he tratado. La pasión y el compromiso que dedicaron a mi caso… es lo que realmente los distinguió de otras firmas.”
★★★★★
“¡Dios mío, nuestro abogado Ryan Tait fue increíble! Cumple lo que dice que va a hacer. Un abogado muy paciente… Hace milagros.”
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★★★★★
“Orientación útil y clara en un momento de incertidumbre. Muy recomendables.”
★★★★★
“Ryan Tait fue increíble y de gran ayuda. Lo recomendaría.”
★★★★★
“Si busca un despacho que de verdad se preocupe por usted y haga que una situación difícil sea menos estresante, esta es su gente… Alexis fue mi abogada, y fue una verdadera bendición.”
★★★★★
“Alexis Brooks fue mi abogada… Fue sumamente profesional y a la vez sencilla, y siempre me hizo sentir tranquilo y seguro con mi caso. Sin duda la recomendaría a cualquiera que necesite una excelente abogada defensora.”
★★★★★
“¡Representación espectacular! Sydney fue muy compasiva, diligente y profesional. No puedo recomendarla lo suficiente.”
★★★★★
“…Ryan y su equipo son amables, comprensivos y saben escuchar. Cada miembro de su equipo demostró estar bien preparado, con conocimiento y gran profesionalismo.”
★★★★★
“Contratamos al Sr. Tait para encargarse de un asunto legal de un miembro de nuestra familia. Fue un caso penal complejo que requirió más de dos años de trabajo. Durante todo el proceso, el Sr. Tait nos mantuvo informados…”
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★★★★★
“¡Son excelentes! Hicieron un gran trabajo en mi caso, muy constantes y serviciales. Sin duda los recomendaré a cualquiera.”
★★★★★
“Excelentes abogados… y su honestidad y eso que me ayudaron que yo no vivo en Arizona”
Los resultados anteriores no garantizan un resultado similar.
Talk to a Mesa criminal defense lawyer
If you have been arrested, charged, or contacted by a detective in Mesa, the decisions you make in the first few days matter. We defend misdemeanors in Mesa Municipal Court and the Mesa-area justice courts, and felonies in Maricopa County Superior Court downtown.
Free, confidential consultation: (480) 405-6767
Prefer not to call? Send us your case details and a member of our team will follow up with you.
Mesa courts
- Mesa Municipal CourtMisdemeanors from inside Mesa city limits. Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; closed Fridays.250 E. 1st Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210Court website Directions
- Southeast Justice CenterEast Mesa, North Mesa, West Mesa and Highland Justice Courts. Your citation names the court.222 E. Javelina Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210Court website Directions
- Maricopa County Superior CourtFelonies, at the downtown criminal court complex.Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., and South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003Court website Directions
Our office: Nova Law Group, PLLC, 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Suite C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., by appointment. Directions
Hable con un abogado de defensa penal en Mesa
Si lo arrestaron, lo acusaron o un detective lo contactó en Mesa, las decisiones que tome en los primeros días importan. Defendemos delitos menores en la Corte Municipal de Mesa y en las cortes de justicia del área de Mesa, y delitos graves en la Corte Superior del Condado de Maricopa en el centro de Phoenix.
Consulta gratuita y confidencial: (480) 405-6767
¿Prefiere no llamar? Envíenos los detalles de su caso y un miembro de nuestro equipo se comunicará con usted.
Cortes de Mesa
- Corte Municipal de MesaDelitos menores dentro de los límites de Mesa. De lunes a jueves, de 7:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m.; cerrada los viernes.250 E. 1st Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210Sitio de la corte Cómo llegar
- Southeast Justice CenterCortes de justicia East Mesa, North Mesa, West Mesa y Highland. Su citación indica la corte.222 E. Javelina Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210Sitio de la corte Cómo llegar
- Corte Superior del Condado de MaricopaDelitos graves, en el complejo penal del centro.Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., and South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003Sitio de la corte Cómo llegar
Nuestra oficina: Nova Law Group, PLLC, 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Suite C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018. De lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m., con cita previa. Cómo llegar
RecognitionReconocimientos
Awards and ratingsPremios y calificaciones
Awards and ratings reflect the standards of the organizations that issue them. They do not predict the outcome of any case.Los premios y las calificaciones reflejan los criterios de las organizaciones que los otorgan. No predicen el resultado de ningún caso.