Police and prosecutors in the greater Phoenix area are very strict in enforcing Arizona's DUI laws. Especially during the summer and most notably around the Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day holidays, police will organize DUI task forces and focus on drivers who may be impaired by alcohol or drugs. While conducting a DUI task force, police will set up checkpoints and look for drivers who may have been drinking. Law enforcement will also investigate people who are stopped for a wide variety of traffic violations.
If You're Arrested for DUI
Being arrested for DUI is an alarming experience and will cause people to be concerned and anxious about the penalties they face and the affect a DUI may have upon their future. Undoubtedly, the State of Arizona imposes some of the harshest penalties in the country upon people who have been convicted of DUI.
Some of the questions people think about after being charged with DUI include:
- WIll my license be suspended?
- Will I lose my job?
- Am I going to serve jail time?
- How much in fines will I pay?
- WIll I have to obtain an ignition interlock device?
- Will I have a criminal record?
There are a number of things you should immediately do after being arrested for a DUI in Arizona.
1. Review Your Paperwork - After being charged with DUI, you will receive a lot of important and possibly confusing paperwork. You should carefully review the paperwork you received from police to make sure that you don't miss any court dates, take necessary steps to retrieve your car from impound and protect your drivers license.
2. Avoid An Immediate License Suspension - Most people will be served with a notice of license suspension by police after being arrested for a DUI in Arizona. This suspension notice is known as an Admin Per Se or Implied Consent Affidavit. If you agreed to a breath or blood test and the alcohol concentration was above .08%, your license may be suspended for 90 days. Refusing to take a test can result in a one year revocation of your driving privileges. The suspension will automatically go into effect fifteen days after your'e arrested unless you take specific steps to protect your drivers license.
3. Prepare for Court - Depending on the type of DUI you have been charged with (misdemeanor or felony), you will be ordered to appear in one of the city, justice or superior courts in Maricopa County. The exact time, place and location of your first court appearance will usually appear in the bottom portion of the citation. It's very important that you don't miss this first appearance as this could result in a warrant being issued for your arrest as well as additional suspensions of your license and higher fines.
4. Consult with a Lawyer - Being arrested for DUI in Arizona means you are at risk of losing your drivers license, serving jail time, paying thousands of dollars in fines, and being forced to put an interlock device on your car. Certainly, the penalties can be very severe. Consequently, you should immediately consult with and retain a qualified DUI attorney who can guide you through the entire process and help you get the most favorable result possible.
Call (480) 833-8613 For Help With Your DUI Case
Undoubtedly, DUI can result in very severe penalties. If you are charged with DUI in any city within the greater Phoenix area, you should immediately consult with an experienced DUI lawyer for assistance. Attorney Raymond Kimble is a former police officer, DUI and felony prosecutor and has represented thousands of people charged with DUI in Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix and other cities throughout Maricopa and Pinal Counties over the last twenty years. Ray Kimble will have a clear understanding of all the circumstances in your case, along with the knowledge, skill and experience to protect your drivers license and achieve the best possible outcome for you.
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