IF I AM CONVICTED FOR A DUI IN ARIZONA, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
In Arizona, the penalties for a DUI conviction are very severe. First, even with a first time conviction, you are facing at least 24 hours in jail. That means even if you have never had a criminal conviction in your life or not even a speeding or jaywalking ticket- in other words, a completely clean record- you will go to jail for at least 24 hours if the state convicts you of a DUI. Of course, 24 hours is just the minimum time in custody; for a misdemeanor conviction, your time in jail can be up to 6 months in custody. Minimum for extreme DUI is 30 days in jail, and the minimum time in jail for a super-extreme DUI is 45 days in jail.
Further, the law changed dramatically a couple of years ago. Now for even a first time DUI conviction of a non-extreme DUI, the state requires at least 12 months of an ignition interlock device. Even if the state convicts you of the metabolite charge- marijuana- and you have absolutely never had a drop of alcohol in your life, you will need to get an interlock device installed in your car.
Then there are the financial penalties, even for misdemeanors. Expect to pay fees of anywhere of $500- minimum total fees for first time DUI on a reservation- up to around $7000, which is the typical fee for a first time super-extreme DUI.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF CHARGED WITH A DUI IN ARIZONA?
Contact my office immediately for a free consultation at 602-955-1985
