Fast-Track Felonies

Your Lawyer for Fast-Track Felony DUIs in Maricopa County

The Arizona constitution has procedures in place for felony criminal cases. First an officer must arrest an individual that he has probable cause to believe has committed a crime. From there a prosecuting agency will seek an indictment where it must prove to a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that the person arrested committed the crimes they are accused of. In the alternative, the State may file a complaint and prove probable cause in front of a contested preliminary hearing with a judge that there is probable cause to charge a defendant. If a person is indicted, then our Constitution provides due process protections affording a defendant the right to an effective attorney, the right to obtain copies and review the evidence against him/her, the right to interview witnesses, file motions to preclude illegal evidence from being admitted at trial, and then ultimately a jury trial. Well in Phoenix, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has found a way to turn the system upside down.

If a defendant finds themselves placed in the “fast track” program, then that means that they show up to court after being served with a summons in the mail for their felony DUI. The actual events of the alleged DWI may have occurred days, months, or years before your first court date. You show up to court, meet your public defender, and receive a plea offer for years in prison that you have a week to decide on. Yes, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will give you SEVEN days to decide on your freedom. If you want more time then you must waive a fundamental right – your right to force the State to prove that there is probable cause to charge you (not always an easy task either), and that buys you another month to decide on a plea offer that puts you in prison for years. During this time period you will not receive copies of all of the evidence against you, indeed much of the most vital evidence is withheld (Laboratory paperwork from your blood testing, videos of you doing field sobriety tests, etc.)

If you have a “fast track DUI” then this is one of the times where you need not a good, but an excellent advocate on your side to get you through this process. Our office has handled these cases and fought for our clients to obtain the best results possible. Call us now for a free consultation!

What Is a Fast-Track DUI?

If a defendant finds themselves placed in the “fast track” program, then that means that they show up to court after being served with a summons in the mail for their felony DUI. The actual events of the alleged DWI may have occurred days, months, or years before your first court date. You show up to court, meet your public defender, and receive a plea offer for years in prison that you have a week to decide on.

Yes, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will give you SEVEN days to decide on your freedom. If you want more time then you must waive a fundamental right – your right to force the State to prove that there is probable cause to charge you (not always an easy task either), and that buys you another month to decide on a plea offer that puts you in prison for years. During this time period you will not receive copies of all of the evidence against you, indeed much of the most vital evidence is withheld (Laboratory paperwork from your blood testing, videos of you doing field sobriety tests, etc.

About Fast-Track DUIs

The Arizona constitution has procedures in place for felony criminal cases. First an officer must arrest an individual that he has probable cause to believe has committed a crime. From there a prosecuting agency will seek an indictment where it must prove to a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that the person arrested committed the crimes they are accused of. In the alternative, the State may file a complaint and prove probable cause in front of a contested preliminary hearing with a judge that there is probable cause to charge a defendant.

If a person is indicted, then our Constitution provides due process protections affording a defendant the right to an effective attorney, the right to obtain copies and review the evidence against him/her, the right to interview witnesses, file motions to preclude illegal evidence from being admitted at trial, and then ultimately a jury trial. Well in Phoenix, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has found a way to turn the system upside down with fast-track DUIs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do You Go to Jail for a Felony DUI in Arizona?

For first-time offenders you may receive up to 3.75 prison. This increases for repeat offenders, with the sentence ramping up dramatically – maximums range from 7.5 to 15 years. See the highlighted portion of the range below:

AGG DUI for Suspended/Revoked License, Wrong Way Driving, Ignition Interlock Device Required, or 3^rd or More in 84 Months is Class 4 Felony.

Is DUI a Felony in AZ?

A DUI in Arizona is considered a felony if an aggravating factor is at-play. The most common ones include having a child in the vehicle, driving with an already suspended or revoked license, wrong way driving, or already being convicted of at least 2 other DUIs in the past 7 years.

What Is an Extreme DUI?

This is when the Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) exceeds .15 and the minimum is 30 days for the first offense. The highest level Extreme is reserved for BACs above .20 and have a minimum sentence of 45 days for the first offense. Learn more about Felony DUIs and Fast-Track Felony DUIs.