Arizona Counties: locate an DUI / DWI lawyer in your area.

There are two elements to an Arizona DUI / DWI offense – driving while impaired, and violating the state’s "per se" law. Per se is another way of saying that the driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or greater within two hours of driving.

Drivers with a blood alcohol content of .15 percent or greater within two hours of driving will face an “Extreme DUI” charge. Drivers under age 21can be charged with DUI or DWI if they are caught driving after having consumed any amount of alcohol.

Arizona DUI / DWI arrests are typically charged as misdemeanors unless the accused has two or more DUI / DWI priors in any state within 5 years of the current offense. The offense also will be charged as a felony if the driver committed the DUI / DWI offense while driving privileges were suspended or revoked or there was a child under the age of 15 was in the car at the time of arrest.

DUI cases are tried to a jury of six people, or to a judge if the accused waives his or her right to a jury trial. The punishment for drunk driving in Arizona depends on the number of priors on the driver’s record and whether the offense is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Motorists convicted of drunk driving face jail time, fines, and license suspensions. Drivers convicted of felony DUI / DWI can be sentenced to prison and fined up to $100,000. Because the consequences can be so severe, it’s critical to have an experienced drunk driving criminal defense lawyer fighting for the driver’s rights.

An Arizona DUI / DWI arrest also generates a case with the state Motor Vehicle Division. A motorist arrested for driving under the influence in Arizona has only 15 days from the date of arrest to request an MVD hearing. If the driver loses the hearing or fails to request one, his or her license will automatically be suspended.

Under the state’s implied consent law, anyone who drives in Arizona agrees to consent to a test of their blood or breath for alcohol content, and the arresting officer has the discretion to choose which test to administer. If the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood or breath, their license will be suspended for one year if a first offense, or two years if a second offense within five years of the first.

An Arizona DUI / DWI arrest can bring severe consequences, so it’s imperative to have a skilled lawyer protecting the driver’s rights. The top attorneys of 1 800 NOT DRUNK and www.notdrunk.com will devise a specialized defense strategy designed to avoid negative repercussions.

DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.