The client’s only criminal case ended in a full dismissal, yet the record kept showing on background checks. Future First won a Tempe SRA Reckless Driving sealing order under ARS § 13-911 that removed the entire case from public view in 90 days.
At a glance
| Original charges | Reckless Driving (ARS § 28-693(A)), Class 2 Misdemeanor, and Failure to Stop for Red Light (ARS § 28-645(A)(3)(a)). Both counts dismissed |
| Application filed | Petition to seal criminal case records under ARS § 13-911, 2026 |
| Court | Tempe Municipal Court |
| Result | All records of arrest and the dismissed charges sealed |
| Rights restored | Records sealed. No conviction ever entered |
| Time from application to grant | 90 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
The client was arrested in 2025 on a reckless driving charge with a companion red light count. He completed every requirement of a Veterans Court program and the court dismissed both counts. This was his only contact with the criminal justice system, before or since.
A dismissal does not erase a record. The arrest and the charges stayed public and kept appearing on background checks. For a client pursuing a career that requires fingerprint clearance and background screening, an open arrest record was a standing obstacle. Only sealing under ARS § 13-911 removes a dismissed case from the databases employers actually search.
What we did
Future First petitioned Tempe Municipal Court to seal all records relating to the arrest, the charging documents, and the case under ARS § 13-911. The petition documented the dismissal, full completion of every program term, and a record of steady employment and community service since the case closed.
The court granted the Tempe SRA Reckless Driving petition in full. The order seals all records relating to the client’s arrest and the dismissed charges, directs the Clerk to seal the case file, and transmits the order to the Department of Public Safety and the prosecutor. The whole process took 90 days from filing to grant.
What our clients say
Clients tell us what record removal changes for them. Read their words on our Google reviews or our client reviews page.
If you have a dismissed case in Arizona
Dismissed charges qualify for sealing under ARS § 13-911 with no waiting period. You do not need to wait years the way conviction records require. Once sealed, the arrest, the charges, and the case file come off public court records and standard background checks. You gain the legal right to state on most applications that you were not arrested for and not charged with the sealed offense.
This matters most for careers with fingerprint and background requirements: public safety, security, health care, education. An arrest record with a dismissal still generates questions in those pipelines. A sealed record generates none.
The Tempe SRA Reckless Driving result shows a dismissed case comes off public view in about three months with the right filing.
Related resources
Call us
Want to clear your record in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of Arizona record removal applications across every statute path. The cleanup is permanent and the process moves faster when handled by a firm that knows the local court.
Anonymized in line with firm policy. Client name not used. Specific dates approximated to year only. Outcome described reflects this client’s actual results. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. For more detailed information on Arizona record removal law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.
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