{"id":8973,"date":"2013-08-19T14:33:49","date_gmt":"2013-08-19T21:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=8973"},"modified":"2022-07-07T16:13:34","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T23:13:34","slug":"can-my-car-get-impounded-after-a-dui-in-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/can-my-car-get-impounded-after-a-dui-in-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Your Car Get Impounded if You Get a DUI in Arizona?"},"content":{"rendered":"
There are a handful of situations in which your car can get impounded in Arizona, for both DUI-related and non-DUI offenses. When it comes to DUIs<\/a>, there are several conditions that must be met in order for a police officer to impound your vehicle.<\/p>\n In general, your car may be impounded if you get an extreme DUI<\/a> or aggravated DUI<\/a>. An extreme DUI applies when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .15% or higher \u2013 nearly two times the legal limit.<\/p>\n According to A.R.S. 28-3511<\/a>, a police officer can impound a vehicle for any of these DUIs. There are additional underlying circumstances that may also lead to vehicle impoundment.<\/p>\n Minors who are pulled over with any amount of alcohol in their system can have their vehicle impounded, as well as drivers who are required to use an ignition interlock system but have failed to do so. In both cases, the BAC of the driver is irrelevant.<\/p>\n Essentially, there must be a combination of factors present in order to have a car impounded after a DUI. If you have a normal DUI with a BAC of at least .08% but less than .15%, and no other mitigating factors are present, then the car does not have to be impounded.<\/p>\n If your vehicle is impounded after a DUI arrest, you\u2019ll be given a Notice of Impoundment that will have information related to your arrest, the location of your vehicle and contact information for the facility holding your vehicle.<\/p>\n As part of A.R.S. 28-3511, you have the right to a hearing in order to release your vehicle before the 30-day mark. Hearings are available to everyone, but they\u2019re granted only for some situations, including:<\/p>\n If your situation falls into one of these areas, you can request a hearing by contacting the police department responsible for the impoundment. Most stations require you to schedule a hearing appointment within 10 days of the vehicle\u2019s impoundment.<\/p>\n Once the 30 days is up, or if you\u2019ve had your car released early after a successful hearing, you\u2019ll be responsible for paying the fees associated with holding your car. The fees will go to the towing company, but you\u2019ll have to go through the police department for all the paperwork you need to give to the tow company.<\/p>\n There are also administrative fees to pay, and if you request to have your car released after a tow company\u2019s normal business hours, they may charge you more for access to your car. Arizona law gives tow companies the opportunity to pursue ownership of a vehicle that has not been released after 10 days past the 30-day mark, so you\u2019ll want to release your car as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Vehicle impoundment is frustrating, but a DUI may come with far worse consequences. If you need help getting the most effective defense in court, contact JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law<\/a>. Our legal team can work to reduce your penalties and sentence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nArizona DUI Impoundment Laws<\/h3>\n
Aggravated DUI occurs when:<\/h4>\n
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A driver\u2019s car can also be impounded if the driver:<\/h4>\n
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What Happens After DUI Impoundment?<\/h2>\n
As per Arizona law, your car will be impounded for 30 days.<\/h3>\n
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Getting Your Vehicle Back After a DUI Impoundment<\/h3>\n
Do You Need a Superior DUI Defense?<\/h3>\n