Arizona DUI laws are severe. All first offense DUIs are Class 1 misdemeanors, not felonies, but carry mandatory minimum jail sentences. The maximum penalty for a first offense DUI misdemeanor is 6 months county jail (not prison) a fine of up to $2,500 plus significant add-on and surcharges and up to 5 years probation.
The mandatory minimum jail sentence generally depends on your blood alcohol level at the time of operating the vehicle. For first offenses there are 3 tiers of impairment: .08-.15, 10 days jail minimum; .15- .19, 30 days jail minimum; over .20, 45 days jail minimum.
Each DUI case is different and your defenses depend on a variety of factors including what happened, whether the police honored your constitutional rights, whether the blood alcohol sample taken (Intoxilyzer or blood draw) was done properly along with many other factors.
Arizona prosecutors and judges take DUIs very seriously. Your exposure to significant jail time is present in every DUI case. Please keep in mind that prior DUI conviction(s); DUI with a child passenger, DUI causing injury or property damage will be aggressively prosecuted. You need experienced counsel to pick apart the State’s case.
As a former prosecutor I know the law, what to look for to get the case resolved and how to present your best defense to a jury at trial.
Free initial consultaions.
