location: Arizona
About 1.5 years ago, I was arrested in Arizona for excessive speeding after being clocked at 83 MPH in a 35 MPH zone in a non-school residential area. I was driving through a small rural town and genuinely didn’t notice the drastic speed limit change until it was too late. I fully accept responsibility for it.
At first, I pleaded not guilty and even hired a lawyer hoping to get the charge reduced, but nothing worked out. Eventually, I accepted a plea agreement that required me to complete a life skills driver course, which I successfully finished. This was my first and only arrest, and aside from this incident, I’ve had a completely clean record.
A few months after the conviction, I tried to get the record expunged, but the request was denied. I was told I’d need to wait at least a year before trying again, and I’m now in the process of reapplying.
Here’s where I’m confused: I’ve seen people say Arizona allows certain records to be sealed after two years. Does a serious speeding offense/arrest like this usually qualify? Has anyone here successfully sealed or cleared something similar, and what was the process actually like?