Phoenix DUI Lawyer Blog

Phoenix Arizona DUI Defense Attorney - AZ DUI Laws

Charged with an Arizona DUI? You will to need the Best DUI attorney you can find. This is because Arizona DUI Law requires mandatory jail time for a conviction of any Arizona DUI Charge. Arizona has some of the toughest laws DUI in the country. Just one such DUI penalty is the AZ DUI jail sentence. It is mandatory for any person in Arizona convicted of a DUI. This includes a conviction resulting from a trial, plea agreement, or plead guilty straight to the court. Fair, or not, Arizona law makers have written it into law and neither the judge, or prosecution has discretion with the mandate.

Arizona DUI laws specify that a person must serve at least 24 hours in jail if convicted of even the most basic or misdemeanor Arizona DUI charge. This will increase quickly to 30 days for an Arizona extreme DUI, then 45 days for an Arizona Super Extreme DUI. The maximum jail sentence for any single misdemeanor DUI charge in Arizona is 180 days.

You have probably heard about Arizona's "Sherriff Joe" and "Tent City". If you are in Maricopa County, Arizona and you have to serve jail time for a DUI conviction you will most likely go to Maricopa County Sheriff Office Joe Apraio's "Tent City". Your jail time s served outdoors. Yes, in the cold of winter, or the excessive Arizona heat of summer, known to have reached a sweltering 121 degrees or higher in some desert areas.

A common myth is that if you get stopped by the police and charged for an Arizona DUI will you automatically go to jail. However, that is not necessarily true. The key here is you must be convicted of an Arizona DUI, not just charged. That is why you need a good Arizona DUI lawyer who will fight for your rights and attempt to either get the DUI dismissed or get the charges reduced to a non-DUI conviction with no jail requirement and/or substantially reduced other penalties. There are some criminal charges that a top rated Phoenix DUI lawyer might recommend you fight on your own...But an Arizona DUI charge is not one of them.

Phoenix, DUI Attorney - AZ DUI Laws

If you or someone you know has been charged with an Arizona DUI or other Criminal offense contact the Law Office of James Novak. Call now for your Free Consultation at (480) 413-1499, with experienced Phoenix Criminal and DUI Defense Attorney and James Novak (Former Prosecutor). The Law Office of James Novak represents clients facing DUI & criminal charges throughout Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and the surrounding areas of Greater Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona.

An Arizona DUI has many different levels of charges including "Extreme DUI" and "Super Extreme DUI." Both of these Arizona DUI offenses are higher charges in relation to the range penalties associated with an Arizona Misdemeanor DUI offense. These or any DUI, for that matter in Arizona are very serious offenses.

First a word of caution...you should think twice before you decide to defend your DUI charges on your own. Arizona has the toughest DUI laws in the country and they are constantly changing. You should consult a well versed, experienced Arizona DUI Defense Attorney to defend your DUI charges. Currently the following explains differences between penalties including fines, fees, incarceration and other punishments associated with the two:

Arizona Extreme DUI
Getting charged with an extreme DUI in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona you will face Extreme DUI charges if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.15% or greater. At this point, the driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle is severely compromised.

A first time Arizona Extreme DUI is punishable by:

• A 90-day driver's license suspension
  
• Up to 5 years probation
  
• 30 to 180 days in jail
  
• Fines and fees
  
• Mandatory participation in an alcohol treatment program
  
• Installation of an ignition interlock device in any car that you drive
  

A second Arizona Extreme DUI conviction will result in even greater penalties, including:

• A 1-year driver's license revocation
  
• Up to 5 years probation
  
• 60 days jail, 280 days total
  
• Fines and fees
  
• Mandatory participation in an alcohol treatment program
  
• Installation of an ignition interlock device in any car that you drive
  

Arizona Super Extreme DUI
In Arizona you will get a Super Extreme DUI charge if you are found operating a vehicle with a BAC level of 0.20% or greater. This is the most serious misdemeanor Arizona DUI. A conviction results in much higher penalties, including:

• Driver's license suspension/revocation
• Up to 5 years probation
• 45 days to 180 days in jail
• Fines and fees
• Mandatory participation in an alcohol treatment program
• Installation of an ignition interlock device for 18 months

If you have received a second Super Extreme DUI, the penalties will be even greater including a mandatory 180 days in jail.

Contact a Phoenix DUI Attorney

If you have been charged with an Arizona Extreme DUI or Arizona Super Extreme DUI in Phoenix or any of the surrounding areas in including your Tempe DUI, Scottsdale DUI, Chandler DUI, Gilbert DUI, or Mesa DUI, call today to speak with an Arizona DUI attorney immediately. You will need an experienced Phoenix DUI lawyer, like James Novak, from the Law Office of James Novak to defend you against your Phoenix Arizona DUI charges. James Novak will fight to protect your future and your freedom!

For your FREE Consultation, contact James Novak today at (480) 413-1499!