Depending on your circumstances, in AZ it may be possible to have your drunk driving conviction "set aside".  If you have met all conditions of your sentence and probation, the court may agree

You cannot ignore the DUI charge as it will prevent you from having a valid license and you are subject to being arrested for your failure to appear for the arrest.  Indeed, you can be exposed

It would have been best to contact the court before the day of the appearance but you are in a special set of circumstances.  What you need to do is to prepare an affidavit (it should be

It isn't at all unusual for this to happen;  you should be thankful that they didn't decide to hold you until all the paperwork was done, which can also happen.  You might get the charges