{"id":14869,"date":"2017-06-21T09:32:56","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T16:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=14869"},"modified":"2024-09-20T10:23:05","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T17:23:05","slug":"dui-arizona-first-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/dui-arizona-first-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona DUI First Offense Consequences"},"content":{"rendered":"

The state of Arizona has a zero tolerance policy in regards to drinking and driving and has some of the toughest DUI laws in the country.<\/p>\n

As defined by Arizona statute\u00a0A.R.S. 28-1381<\/a>, a\u00a0person is guilty of driving under the influence when:<\/p>\n

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  1. The person is under the influence of an alcohol, drug, vapor, or toxic substance that leaves the person impaired.<\/li>\n
  2. The person has a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08.<\/li>\n
  3. There is any drug in the person\u2019s system as defined in section 13-3401.<\/li>\n
  4. If the vehicle is a commercial vehicle and there driver has a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.04.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The points\u00a0above are important, because it allows a person to be arrested for driving under the influence even if they\u2019re under the legal limit of 0.08.<\/p>\n

    If the police officer believes that you are too impaired to operate a vehicle, you can still be charged with a DUI, even if your breathalyzer test shows that you are under the legal limit. If a driver blows over the legal limit of 0.08, he or she is automatically guilty of driving under the influence.<\/p>\n

    The fact that a driver can still receive a DUI charge if they blow under the legal limit illustrates Arizona\u2019s zero tolerance policy.<\/p>\n

    First Time Offense DUI Penalties<\/h3>\n

    If a driver is convicted of a their first DUI, the following punishments will go into effect:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The offender will serve no less than 10 consecutive days in jail.<\/li>\n
    2. The offender will pay a minimum fine of $250.<\/li>\n
    3. The offender may be ordered to perform community service.<\/li>\n
    4. The offender will pay an additional $500 to the prison construction and operation fund.<\/li>\n
    5. The offender will pay an additional $500 to the public safety equipment fund.<\/li>\n
    6. The offender will install a certified ignition interlock<\/a> device into his or her vehicle.<\/li>\n
    7. An Arizona DUI is a class 1 misdemeanor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A driver who receives their first DUI will have to serve 10 days in jail. If the driver completes a court ordered alcohol or other drug screening treatment program, the court may suspend all but one day of the jail sentence.<\/p>\n

      What to\u00a0Do When Pulled Over for a DUI<\/h3>\n