Drinking and driving can result in serious charges if you are found guilty by a court of law. However, when your crime is upgraded to an extreme DUI, the consequences can be even more severe.
An extreme DUI charge occurs when an individual is arrested with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of between 0.15 and 0.19 percent. This differs from a normal DUI in which an individual is charged with a misdemeanor for driving with a BAC of between 0.08 and 0.14. While an extreme DUI is also a misdemeanor charge, the penalties can be stiffer than with a normal DUI.
If you have been charged with a DUI, know that you have rights, including the right to acquire legal counsel. An experienced Peoria extreme DUI lawyer will fight on your behalf to have your charges reduced or possibly even dropped based on your case.
Call the Peoria JacksonWhite Criminal Law team at (480) 372-9090 to discuss your case today.
Extreme DUI Laws in Peoria
Arizona has some of the harshest penalties for extreme DUI. If you are pulled over for suspicion of drinking and driving, you will be asked to take a field test on the spot. If you refuse to take the test, you will face a mandatory one-year suspicion on your license if it was your first offense. For second and third offenses, your license will be suspended for two years.
As an extreme DUI means that you were allegedly driving roughly twice the legal limit, the repercussions of the crime can be severe. These laws are put in place to act as a deterrent against people who choose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they are in no condition to drive. Strict drinking and driving penalties have helped to cut down on the number of DUI cases in Arizona.
Extreme DUI Penalties in Peoria
If you are convicted of an extreme DUI, you may face a number of serious penalties. First, you will be sentenced to a minimum of 30 days in jail. A judge may choose to suspend all but 10 days of your sentence if you complete a drug and alcohol treatment program or screening education.
You will also be required to pay a fine of at least $250, as well as an additional assessment of $250. You can also expect a sharp increase in your automobile rates and may have difficulty finding an insurance carrier who will accept you. Depending on the circumstances at hand, you may also be required to complete mandatory community service.
Another requirement that most people who are convicted of an extreme DUI have to face is having a certified ignition vehicle interlock device placed in their car. This device needs to be put on any vehicle that you drive for a minimum of one year following the ending of your suspended license.
If alcohol has been found to be a common problem in your past, an Arizona judge may require that you do not consume alcohol for a period of at least 30 days. You may also be required to wear a continuous alcohol monitoring device attached to your ankle. You will need to blow into the device twice a day to test to measure your BAC.
Defenses for Extreme DUIs in Peoria
A charge of an extreme DUI in Arizona does not always equate to a conviction. With the help of a seasoned Peoria extreme DUI lawyer, you could have your charges significantly reduced or even dropped completely. This can often be achieved by finding weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and by building a strategic defense that is backed by facts.
When building your case, we will consider a variety of details like the actual BAC level and signs of intoxication you displayed that got you charged in the first place. We will also look at possible constitutional or procedure violations that may have occurred, as well as possible issues with the blood testing process used at the time of your arrest.
JacksonWhite Law in Peoria, Arizona
With mandatory jail time and hundreds to thousands of dollars in fines, the penalties associated with an extreme DUI can be quite severe. While you cannot go back in time to prevent the crime from happening, you can ensure that you take the proper steps to resolve your legal problems with the least amount of punishment possible.
At JacksonWhite Law, we have a highly-qualified legal team of extreme DUI professionals ready to take your call. For more information about extreme DUI convictions in Arizona or to discuss your case with a Peoria criminal defense lawyer, call or stop by our Peoria office today.
Address: 7972 W. Thunderbird Rd, Suite 105
Peoria, AZ 85381
Call the Peoria JacksonWhite Criminal Law team at (480) 504-6476 to discuss your case today.
