A speeding ticket in Arizona is normally considered a civil penalty that adds points to a license and comes with a fine, and is not a criminal offense. This does change if a driver was doing more than 20 over in a residential or business zone, 35 miles per hour in a school zone or 85 miles per hour in other locations. It can also change of a driver has a long history of driving violations. If a driver doesn't excessively speed, there are a number of options for dealing with a speeding ticket. A ticket may be removed in exchange for an eligible driver attending defensive driving school. To be eligible, a driver must not have taken a driving class within 24 months, not had a speeding incident in which someone was seriously hurt or killed and a hearing wasn't set for the ticket.