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
Scottsdale criminal speeding defense
Criminal Speeding Lawyer in Scottsdale, AZ
What happened on the road matters more than the citation.
A criminal speeding citation from a Scottsdale officer can pass for an ordinary speeding ticket, until you notice the criminal box and the arraignment date printed at the bottom. A guilty or no contest plea ends in a misdemeanor conviction, not a civil traffic entry, so this is not one to settle online without a second look.
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
Criminal Speeding Lawyer in Scottsdale, AZ
Who writes it in Scottsdale, and where it is heard
First court date
Within 24 hours of an arrest. On a felony, release conditions are set at the jail court, 2670 S. 28th Dr. in Phoenix.
Misdemeanor
The Scottsdale City Attorney's Prosecution Division brings it in Scottsdale City Court, 3700 N. 75th St.
Felony
The County Attorney brings it in Superior Court in downtown Phoenix, 201 W. Jefferson St. or 175 W. Madison St.
Other agencies
A DPS or Sheriff's case can be assigned to a county justice court, such as McDowell Mountain Justice Court.
Inside city limits the citation comes from Scottsdale Police, either a district patrol officer or a member of the Traffic Enforcement Section, part of the Special Operations Division. Speed is a stated enforcement target. In a September 2024 report asking the City Council to accept a state highway safety grant, the department described overtime for targeted speed and aggressive driving enforcement under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, and quoted the state's focus on aggressive driving, including high speeds and street racing.
A Scottsdale Police citation goes to the City Attorney's Prosecution Division and is heard at Scottsdale City Court, 3700 N. 75th St. A trooper's stop on Loop 101 is different: that citation can be assigned to a county justice court such as McDowell Mountain, and the justice courts require a judge appearance on any criminal count.
The court's own bond card spells out how it treats this charge. In a note, it says § 28-701.02(A)(1) through (A)(3) violations require an appearance in court and are eligible for defensive driving school only with a judge's express permission, while ordinary § 28-701(A) speed entries sit in its eligible column. The first hearing is the arraignment, where you hear the charges and your rights and enter a plea; a not guilty plea leads to a pretrial conference with a City Prosecutor. Appearing by video takes a motion, granted by a judge, for each appearance.
A camera notice runs on a different track. Scottsdale has used photo enforcement since 1996, and the police page lists fixed intersection cameras on city streets, among them Scottsdale Road at Thomas Road and Indian School Road at Hayden Road, measuring speed by radar. The court's photo enforcement page talks about paying, a civil hearing or defensive driving. A criminal speeding complaint more often starts with an officer at the roadside.
Do not assume the court will appoint you a lawyer. Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 6.1(b) entitles an indigent defendant to appointed counsel in a proceeding that may result in punishment by loss of liberty. In misdemeanor court, the prosecutor can avow that no jail will be requested and the judge can rule that no jail will be imposed, and once that happens, there is no right to appointed counsel at all. Arizona's Court of Appeals upheld exactly that in Campa v. Fleming, 134 Ariz. 330 (App. 1982).
That matters on a speeding charge, because Scottsdale City Court ties a public defender to a case that qualifies, naming a prosecutor who seeks jail as its example, and to the defendant's finances.
The law
The lines drawn by A.R.S. § 28-701.02
The general speed statute, § 28-701(A), requires a speed that is reasonable and prudent given the conditions and the hazards present. Section 28-701.02(A) sets the points where speed becomes a crime:
School crossingAbove 35 mph while approaching one (§ 28-701.02(A)(1)), a fixed figure regardless of the posted sign.
Business or residential districtMore than 20 mph over the posted limit, or over 45 mph when the district has no posted limit (§ 28-701.02(A)(2)).
Everywhere elseMore than 20 mph over the posted limit (§ 28-701.02(A)(3)).
ClassA class 3 misdemeanor (§ 28-701.02(B)).
No civil fallback by complaintOnce the criminal charge is brought, a civil § 28-701 complaint arising out of the same circumstances may not be issued (§ 28-701.02(C)).
Maximums30 days in jail (A.R.S. § 13-707(A)(3)), a $500 fine (A.R.S. § 13-802(C)) and one year of probation (A.R.S. § 13-902(A)(7)). These are ceilings, not mandatory minimums.
Criminal Speeding Lawyer in Scottsdale, AZ
Where a Scottsdale speeding case can turn
Question the measurement
Radar, lidar, pacing and an officer's visual estimate each have limits. We ask where the officer was positioned, how long the reading lasted, and whether another vehicle could have produced it, and we request calibration, maintenance and training records.
Confirm the limit at that spot
The posted number where the radar locked on, or the presence of a school crossing, decides which line applies. Zones change along a road, citations can misplace a stop, and a reading barely over leaves little margin.
Get the recordings early
Body-worn and patrol video, dispatch logs and business cameras along the road can support or undercut the report, and private footage does not keep forever.
Ask about defensive driving
Under the court's bond card, a judge's express permission is required for this charge. The court's class page adds its own limits: no class if you attended one within 12 months of your last eligible violation, and none where the charge grew out of a crash causing serious physical injury or death.
Negotiate with the bar in mind
Because § 28-701.02(C) blocks a separate civil complaint once the criminal charge is brought, any lesser result has to be worked out with the prosecutor. A clean record or a completed course can help, though nothing is automatic.
Think past the fine
Avoiding jail is not the same as avoiding a conviction. A criminal speeding conviction can surface in background checks and matter to insurers and employers who need you driving. Noncitizens should get immigration advice first, since some convictions carry removal consequences under 8 U.S.C. § 1227.
The law
Sources: Arizona statutes and Cornell Law School
Our statements of Arizona law above come from these sections.
- § 28-701.02, the three criminal speed lines (azleg.gov)
- § 28-701, the reasonable and prudent rule (azleg.gov)
- § 13-707, thirty days for a class 3 misdemeanor (azleg.gov)
- § 13-802, the $500 class 3 fine cap (azleg.gov)
- § 13-902, one year of misdemeanor probation (azleg.gov)
- § 13-905, applying for a set-aside (azleg.gov)
- § 13-911, two-year sealing wait (azleg.gov)
- Wex, the misdemeanor category (Cornell LII)
- 8 U.S.C. § 1227, classes of deportable noncitizens (Cornell LII)
The charges
Trial preparation for a misdemeanor
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 criminal speeding 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
Scottsdale courts and official links
Where a Scottsdale case is heard depends on the charge and the agency. Some courts are in Scottsdale and some are in Phoenix. Each card has directions and the official website, so you can check details before you go.
Scottsdale City Court
City misdemeanors, from arraignment to trial. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
3700 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251Scottsdale City Attorney, Prosecution Division
Decides whether a city misdemeanor is charged and how it is resolved. Phone 480-312-2710.
Cases heard at 3700 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251McDowell Mountain Justice Court
A misdemeanor reported by DPS or a Sheriff's deputy can be assigned to a county justice court like this one. Your citation names the court.
18380 N. 40th St., Suite 130, Phoenix, AZ 85032Maricopa 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 85003Laws cited on this page
- A.R.S. § 13-707, Misdemeanors; sentencing
- A.R.S. § 13-802, Fines for misdemeanors
- A.R.S. § 13-902, Periods of probation; monitoring; fees
- A.R.S. § 28-701.02, Excessive speeds; classification
- A.R.S. § 28-701, Reasonable and prudent speed; prima facie evidence; exceptions
- A.R.S. § 13-905, Setting aside judgment of convicted person on discharge; application; release from disabilities
- A.R.S. § 13-911, Sealing of arrest, conviction and sentencing records; requirements; fee; appeal; definition
Common questions
Scottsdale criminal speeding questions
Only if a judge allows it. Scottsdale City Court's bond card says § 28-701.02 speeding requires a court appearance and is eligible for defensive driving school only with a judge's express permission, and the court's class page rules out a repeat class within 12 months of the last eligible violation. The justice courts say some of their courts allow it for this charge, again with the judge's permission first. Ask before the arraignment, not after a plea.
If the State proves it, yes. Section 28-701.02 makes it a class 3 misdemeanor to exceed a posted limit by more than 20 mph, whether or not the road counts as a business or residential district. A reading one mph past the line leaves almost no room for error, so the device, its calibration, the officer's position and the posted limit at that exact spot all get a close look.
Probably not. The city's photo program uses fixed intersection cameras, and the court's photo enforcement page describes paying, a civil hearing or defensive driving. Criminal speeding under § 28-701.02 is often written by an officer, with the criminal box checked. Read the box on your own paperwork, and call us if it says criminal.
For a class 3 misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine and one year of probation, none of them mandatory. Once you have finished the sentence and the court discharges you, you can apply to set the judgment aside under § 13-905(A), and § 13-911(E)(4) allows a sealing petition two years after the nonmonetary terms are finished and you are discharged.
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.
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“These guys are the best attorneys in all of Arizona. It is definitely the most professional group of lawyers… I recommend this firm!”
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“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.”
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“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.”
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★★★★★
“¡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.”
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★★★★★
“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 Scottsdale criminal defense lawyer
If you have been arrested, charged, or contacted by a detective in Scottsdale, the decisions you make in the first few days matter. We defend misdemeanors in Scottsdale City Court and the 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.
Scottsdale courts
- Scottsdale City CourtMisdemeanors prosecuted by the Scottsdale City Attorney. Free parking in front and in the Civic Center garage.3700 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251Court website Directions
- McDowell Mountain Justice CourtSome DPS and Sheriff's Office cases. Your citation names the court.18380 N. 40th St., Suite 130, Phoenix, AZ 85032Court 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 Scottsdale
Si lo arrestaron, lo acusaron o un detective lo contactó en Scottsdale, las decisiones que tome en los primeros días importan. Defendemos delitos menores en la Corte de la Ciudad de Scottsdale y en las cortes de justicia, 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 Scottsdale
- Corte de la Ciudad de ScottsdaleDelitos menores que procesa el Fiscal de la Ciudad de Scottsdale. Estacionamiento gratuito al frente y en el garaje del Civic Center.3700 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251Sitio de la corte Cómo llegar
- Corte de Justicia McDowell MountainAlgunos casos del DPS y de la Oficina del Sheriff. Su citación indica la corte.18380 N. 40th St., Suite 130, Phoenix, AZ 85032Sitio 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.