Can you get a DUI reduced to reckless driving?

Question

Accepted Answer

The two offenses

- DUI: Under Arizona law, it is unlawful to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or vapor-releasing substances to the slightest degree, or with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more (0.04 for commercial vehicles and vehicles for hire), or with certain drugs or metabolites in the body; a conviction is a class 1 misdemeanor .
- Reckless driving: A person who drives a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor .

Can a DUI be reduced to reckless driving?

None of the provided Arizona sources contain any statute or rule governing whether, when, or how a DUI charge may be reduced to reckless driving. The only "reduction" statute in the sources concerns penalties for a mandatory-insurance violation under a different section and has nothing to do with DUI charges . Whether a DUI charge is reduced to reckless driving is a matter of prosecutorial discretion — typically resolved through plea negotiations — and no Arizona statute in these sources governs that decision.

Because the sources do not address charge reduction or plea bargaining, I cannot say what factors make a reduction more or less likely. For advice about your specific case, consult a licensed Arizona attorney.