Arizona law enforcement agencies made over 3,500 DUI arrests from November 25th to January 1st. Most of those people charged with Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Intoxicated have no experience with the legal system nor have any idea about what their options are. Instead their minds are probably filled with questions about possible jail time, the fines and fees involved, license suspension, and treatment program or community service involvement.
In Arizona there is a drunk driving law that prohibits a person from driving when they have a concentration of 0.08 percent of alcohol in their blood system, and this is the standard measurement used in all states. (If the person is a commercial driver, the limit is 0.04.) If someone pulled over while drunk driving, got caught and convicted, there are fees, fines, possible jail time, license suspension, and the installation of an ignition interlock device. For a first time offense this could range from $600-several thousand dollars, 24 hours up to 180 days of jail time, 90 days to 1 year license suspension, the cost of the ignition interlock device to the offender, and possible community service. These penalties increase with the 2nd and 3rd offense. In addition to the above, being convicted of a standard DUI in Arizona is a Misdemeanor Criminal Conviction. However, this could rise to the level of a Felony Conviction in certain circumstances, such as if this was the 2nd or more DUI convictions, there was a minor in the vehicle, the driver was on a suspended or revoked license, or there was serious injury or death.
You can see that the Arizona penalties for DUI are harsh but diverse. The need for obtaining a good lawyer early is crucial. Having an attorney whom you have selected is better than having a court ordered attorney or signing a waiver that gives up your right to an attorney. You are then on your own and likely lack the needed understanding of the law. You should know that you have given your consent to a chemical test (blood, breath, urine) just by getting behind the wheel in Arizona. A good attorney is there to answer your questions, to give you good advice, perhaps to challenge the blood alcohol testing and its reliability, and to prove that you were not impaired while driving. Know that The Carroll Law Firm is there to represent you when faced with a DUI arrest or conviction. We are only a phone call away.
