online dui course - Online DUI Classes AZ

2018

October

It is really important that you understand when you can face DUI charges in Arizona. If not, you could get pulled over and not realize the danger. Driving while under any influence of alcohol is not safe. However, if you do cross over the legal DUI limits, you put a lot of people at risk. You are at risk yourself, simply because you are operating a vehicle. However, you also risk the lives of those around you. This includes other people on the road, but also pedestrians and people just going about their daily lives. Make sure you understand the implication of facing DUI charges in Arizona before you get behind the wheel after drinking even a small amount of alcohol. Underage Drinkers Face DUI Charges in Arizona for Any Amount of Alcohol Here in Arizona, the legal drinking age is 21. That means, as of your 21st birthday, you can legally go out and purchase and consume alcohol. Prior to your 21st birthday, it is illegal for you to possess or consume even the slightest amount of alcohol. If you get caught having any alcohol in your system, driving or not, you can face DUI charges in Arizona. However, if you are driving with any alcohol in your system, you are looking at losing your license and fines, bare minimum. Commercial Drivers Are Held to Higher DUI Standards Than Other Drivers In Arizona, those who drive commercial vehicles face stricter standards than those who simply drive themselves or their family around. It is considered safe for a commercial driver to have the equivalent of a beer a few hours before taking a shift, but their blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, must remain below 0.04%. If they take a blood alcohol test and it comes back higher than that, they will be facing DUI charges in Arizona. Regular DUI Charges in Arizona For standard drivers, they must keep their BAC at 0.07% or lower. Once their BAC hits 0.08%, they fall under the category of DUI. Most officers who suspect someone may be driving under the influence will pull the driver over, then decide what signs of drunkenness they can see. Typically, this decision is made with the help of tests, commonly called field sobriety tests. What the officer will do is ask the person to perform a few mundane tasks. They can include things like: Saying the alphabet backward, starting with Z and ending with A. Walking along a straight line on the ground. They can use a street line or draw a straight line with chalk. Some officers will ask the person to count to 30 or 60, while standing on one foot, without losing their balance. They will also typically ask people to follow a flashlight with their eyes, as the officer moves it back and forth. Those that show any signs of trouble with the above tests, are usually asked to also do a breathalyzer. While you do have the right to decline, if they believe you are drunk, they have the right to arrest you as well. For those that do show up as drunk, the officer will take your license and it is effectively suspended for a period of 12 months from that date. Arizona is also different than many other states in that if you do face DUI charges, you get hit with two sets of charges. You face the criminal DUI charges in Arizona, plus you also face charges from the Arizona MVD, or the Motor Vehicle Division. This can leave you facing court charges for a long time, and increase the consequences that you face along the way. Extreme and Aggravated DUI Charges in Arizona If you were to drive with a BAC level at or above 0.15%, this is considered an extreme DUI. It carries with it its own set of consequences. Instead of just losing your license and facing a fine, plus a few days in jail, your consequences can increase from there. You may go from jail time to prison time, and your fines can increase as well. For an aggravated DUI, you have to meet some specific circumstances. For example, if this is the third time you have faced DUI charges in Arizona within the last 84 months, this is a condition for an aggravated DUI. You can also face aggravated DUI charges in Arizona if you get a DUI while anyone that is under the age of 15 in your vehicle. So, if you happened to drive home with your young children in the car, this can result in you facing aggravated DUI charges. If you get a DUI charge while your license is canceled, revoked, or suspended, this also results in you automatically getting upgraded to aggravated DUI charges in Arizona. We Can Help You Avoid Some of the Possible Maximum Consequences of DUI Charges in Arizona For most people, driving while under the influence of alcohol is a mistake. It is something you never meant to do, and you never meant any harm to anyone along the way. This is something that courts understand. They know that it may have been a temporary lapse of judgment. For this reason, they appreciate seeing people take their DUI charges seriously. If you come in and get help here at the Stonewall Institute, it can help you during your court appearances. We can show the court that you came in for treatment, and are taking steps to ensure you never repeat that mistake again in the future. Reach out to us here at DUI Class Online AZ at (602) 535-6468. Please take the time to reach out to us if you face DUI charges in Arizona. We understand how much getting help can aid you when you go to court, plus, we also know you want to get better after making this mistake. Let us help get your life going along the right path.

2018

October

When you are arrested for a DUI in Arizona, you will face many stiff penalties, including jail time (between 24-hours - 6 months), fines of $250 - $2,500, and losing your license for 90 days. Obviously, none of these punishments are fun and they can all wreak havoc on your life. However, there are some things you can do to improve your outcome – like getting a DUI screening before you go before the judge. Why You Should get a DUI Screening Before Your Court Date Getting a DUI screening before your court date has many advantages. To understand these advantages, you must first understand what this screening is. Essentially, it is a 15 - 30-minute one-on-one interview with an alcohol counselor who asks you questions about your drinking habits. They will then recommend a treatment plan which you are only obligated to follow if you are convicted of DUI. Typically, this treatment plan will require 16 hours of your time for your first offense, but if you have committed multiple, extreme, super extreme or aggravated DUIs it will require between 36 - 72 hours of your time. Scheduling your DUI screening as soon as possible is a good idea for several reasons, including:  It reduces your license suspension from 90 days to 30 days of no driving with an additional 60 days of restricted driving.  If you are convicted of DUI, you will get credit towards the court-mandated Alcohol Screening you must complete in exchange for less jail time. Other Ways to Help Improve Your Case Scheduling a DUI screening before going to court is not the only thing you can do to help yourself. You can also:  Alcohol and drug assessment, including possible treatment, is recommended so you can face your problem sooner rather than later. Taking this action will impress the judge as your lawyer can present this as evidence that you are seeking help. They may, in turn, lessen your charges or help you make a plea.  Attending DUI school before trial lets you get your full driver’s license back after an administrative suspension. It also helps give your attorney some leverage in the charges against you because you are showing that you accept responsibility for your problem and its consequences.  Taking time to clean up your driving history, including any other violations or infractions (e.g. speeding, reckless driving), will enable your attorney to make a deal with the prosecuting attorney – they may even be able to create a “package deal” in which all your traffic offenses are taken care of at once for you. This is also another opportunity for you to show the judge that you are taking charge of your legal issues and your life instead of trying to run and hide from things.  Make sure you have enough money to cover your criminal offense – including money for a bond to get out of jail; retaining a lawyer; and hiring expert investigators, accident reconstructionists, couriers, process servers, field sobriety experts, and forensic experts. You will probably need to miss some work to appear in court, attend DUI school, and fulfill community service. All these things add up fast so do your best to start saving up money as soon as possible.  As we have mentioned, you will need to have time to attend court. You cannot determine when you will appear in front of the judge so you should save some of your vacation days for this. Be prepared just in case your hearing lasts for several days. If you have to go to jail at some point you are your DUI, you do not want to lose your job so you will need vacation days for this as well. Some people have discovered that they needed to spend your entire vacation time for a year taking care of this “mess.”  Getting involved in community service is a good thing to do while you are awaiting your trial because it will be a part of your mandatory punishment anyway. The number of hours you will need to undertake will be determined by the number of offenses you have committed and how severe your offense is. When you start working on these hours through a charitable or non-profit organization before your trial your lawyer will have a bargaining tool to use with the prosecutor. Another great reason to get started with this ahead of time is that you may be able to make a much better choice of where you spend these hours than what a judge may sentence you to. Additionally, you may be able to avoid any “probation supervision fees” here as well (monthly costs for your probation officer to oversee you and check up on how you are completing your court-ordered punishment). Many of the things you should do before your case goes to trial are in your best interest simply because they show the judge that you are taking things seriously, that you are taking “the bull by the horns.” When a judge sees that you are putting forth a good faith effort they will typically mitigate your punishment during the sentencing part of your indictment. Why You Need a Lawyer Throughout it All Along with getting DUI screening, make sure you also hire an attorney. While you will still lose your license for a while if you are convicted of DUI, there are some ways that an attorney can help you, including:  They will prepare for court by explaining what is expected of you in a way that will make sure you understand what is happening when you are in court.  Your attorney can help you complete some of your requirements before appearing in court like obtaining SR-22 auto insurance and filing the proper forms with the department of motor vehicles.  They can have you complete your alcohol education and treatment programs so you regain your driving privileges. At DUI Class Online AZ, we have guided many people through this process. Our goal is to help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible. Give us a call at (602) 535-6468 as soon as you are arrested for a DUI so we can help you immediately begin reclaiming your life.

2018

September

Understanding the Effects of Repeated DUI Offenses in Arizona While your first DUI offense is serious, repeated DUI offenses are even more serious as they carry long-term repercussions. Every state has their own set of penalties, but those in Arizona are treated much more severely. You will be slapped with fines, restrictions on your driver’s licenses, jail time, and other penalties that grow significantly “worse” based on the number of repeat Arizona DUI offenses you commit. The Consequences of Repeated DUI Offenses in Arizona It is important to look at the consequences you will face based on your number of offenses. These include: A first offense results in 10 days spent in jail and a $250 fine A second DUI offense results in 30 days spent in jail, an interlock device being installed in your car, over $3,000 in fines, your driver’s license being revoked for 12 months, and mandated alcohol/drug screening, education and treatment A third DUI results in four months in jail, $4,000 in fines and you are also charged with a felony now (all previous offenses were misdemeanors) which brings with it lasting consequences like being completely banned from owning any firearms, making you ineligible to vote or serve in the Armed Forces, and it will become difficult for you to find employment These are only some of the lasting consequences that you will face for a DUI offense. For instance, community service is not unheard of for DUI convictions. However, you must take note of the serious nature of these penalties. Doing so will also help you to understand why you need to hire an Arizona DUI defense lawyer to defend your legal rights for you. Additional Factors for Aggravated DUI An aggravated DUI in Arizona is defined as occurring when you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.18% or higher. Committing repeated DUI offenses within a 7-year period is also another factor in determining if you will be charged with an aggravated DUI. Additional factors that can stack sanctions on you here include driving inebriated while having a minor child (someone under the age of 15) in your vehicle, committing a DUI while your license is either suspended or revoked, and causing serious injury or property damage because you operated a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Regardless of why you are charged with an aggravated DUI, you will be required to submit to the use of an ignition interlock. This is only one example of the potential punishments you may face, but you can expect them to increase exponentially. You should expect to spend even more time in jail and pay even steeper fines as well. Why You Need Help Defending Yourself in Court for Repeated DUI Offenses When you have committed a second or aggravated DUI in Arizona, you should expect to have an uphill legal battle on your hands. Typically, Arizona will come down hard on you because you are a repeat offender and the fact that they really want to reduce the statewide dangers of drinking and driving. Some people will even tell you that Arizona has some of the toughest laws in the nation when it comes to aggressively prosecuting DUIs. In fact, Wallet Hub conducted a study in which they stated that Arizona ranks number one in the nation for criminal penalties for DUI. With this information in mind, you can easily understand why you must get a criminal defense attorney to provide you with a strong legal defense. It is impossible for the “average” person to understand the various legal avenues they can use to challenge a DUI charge. This is something that your DUI defense attorney can do for you so that you will have the best possible defense. Of course, while these are serious charges it must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of a DUI before these serious consequences and penalties will apply to you. Even if the facts are unquestionable, you will want a lawyer who will work tirelessly to have your charges reduced and more lenient punishments applied on your behalf. How Your Attorney Will Defend You Understanding just how aggressively police and judges are with enforcing DUI, it should come as no surprise that the statutory minimum sentences are far from lenient. Most prosecutors will not agree to a plea bargain arrangement for serious, aggravated DUIs or for repeated DUI offenses. Mounting a strong defense in these cases is very challenging, but this is not impossible if you obtain the help of a skilled Arizona criminal defense attorney. These attorneys have multiple ways in which they can legally challenge a DUI charge, including finding: Inconsistencies in the police report Violations of your constitutional rights when you were arrested Inaccurate chemical tests caused by faulty lab equipment or improper police training Ways to attack your previous DUIs or license suspensions thus saving you from being labeled and sentenced as a repeat or aggravated offender Having a lawyer who can undermine the key evidence that the prosecution has against you, may be able to have the charges for repeat DUI against you completely dropped. Of course, you may still be charged with a less serious offense, but at least you will have your freedom, finances, and future protected. This is a real battle, though since you are up against a finely-tuned bureaucratic machine, which is why you need a lawyer who can invoke the powerful rights you have at your disposal. Your lawyer will also guide you through the DUI process. They will recommend you contact a DUI agency and first get a DUI screening. At DUI Class Online AZ, we provide the very best in Online DUI Services through the utilization of a secure online internet platform that provides confidentiality and HIPAA compliance for our clients. As an Arizona state certified provider, we are fully qualified to meet all of your DUI needs for your Arizona Court and the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division. Even if it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that you have committed a repeat or aggravated DUI, having an experienced lawyer who can help you assert your rights will help. They can possibly reduce the time you spend in jail, the likelihood of being labeled as a felon, and mitigate other lasting consequences too. So, if you have been arrested on suspicion of DUI, remember you are innocent until you are proven guilty, but you must act to get a lawyer right away. At DUI Class Online AZ, we have lots of experience defending people who are faced with multiple DUI charges. We are here to help you too. Give us a call us at (602)535-6468. We look forward to helping you restore your life soon.

2018

September

Arizona has some of the highest DUI rates in the nation. How many facts about Arizona DUIs and alcohol do you know? Most people only know a few, if any at all. However, this is a very dangerous aspect of many people’s lives. It is very important to understand how impactful alcohol really can be in someone’s life. You may have someone in your life that struggles with alcohol, and they may even realize just how much danger they are in. If you suspect someone you care about struggles with the effects of alcohol abuse, contact DUI Class Online AZ Today. It is important you understand just how powerful alcohol can be. Here are some very important facts to know about both alcohol, and how it turns into DUIs each year. Facts You Need to Know About DUIs and Alcohol One of the scariest facts about DUIs and alcohol is that the average person who drinks, then decides to get behind the wheel will do so about 80 different times before they finally face their first arrest. Granted, some are far fewer, but some are far more than those 80 times, too. Around 80 times that person will put their own life, and the lives of those around them at risk. They will believe themselves safe to operate a motor vehicle, and try and drive themselves somewhere. Another important fact about DUIs and alcohol is the number of injuries and fatalities that comes with them. Look at your clock and watch it go ahead by two minutes. Then, come back here and realize that at least one person was just injured because of DUIs and alcohol. That’s right, it takes only two minutes for that to happen, day in and day out. There are also those that do not survive a DUI. Some are the drivers, others are innocently in the wrong place at the wrong time. While deaths do not occur quite as often, they still happen at an alarming rate. It is said that every 51 minutes someone dies as a direct result of someone that drank then drove. Facts About Alcohol Abuse When you look at the facts about alcohol as opposed to the facts about DUIs and alcohol, the numbers get even harder to swallow, pardon the pun. Nearly 100,000 people die each and every year as a result of alcohol abuse. Here is another fact that may put alcohol abuse in perspective. Consider your average hospital. Take out the beds reserved for ICU and the maternity ward. Out of all of the rest of those beds, 2 out of every 5 beds are used to treat some type of ailment directly related to alcohol abuse. Looking at people under the legal drinking age in nearly every state of 21, the numbers are equally as problematic. Approximately 5,000 people in this age group die annually because of alcohol consumption or an incident that directly relates back to alcohol. This can include crashes in vehicles, suicide, homicide, alcohol poisoning, and accidents related to drunk driving. When you add up all of the years under the average lifespan people are when they pass from any alcohol related reason, you have nearly 2.5 million years. That is how many missed years we have just here in the United States annually. You Have Options When Armed with Facts About DUIs and Alcohol When you go into a conversation with someone that struggles with alcohol, arm yourself. Get the facts about DUIs and alcohol and show them. Point out how dangerous this simple, “legal” drug can cause. Getting a DUI has many consequences that come with it. Do they have a backup plan if they get pulled over and arrested? Many people who drink regularly to excess do not even have an extra emergency fund, let alone bail money if someone was hurt while they were driving under the influence. The first thing to happen once a person gets a DUI in Arizona is they lose their license. What happens to them then? Will someone be able to drive them to and from work each day? How will they get to the store or pay a bill that cannot be paid online? These are difficult questions, but they need answers. If you go into that conversation armed with facts about DUIs and alcohol, you are more likely to be able to give them new insight. It is really easy to ignore the consequences of drinking or to justify your behavior when you think you know it all. However, when faced with these facts, it can be much more difficult to deny what is going on. Show them the truth about their actions and behavior. Maybe then they will understand the importance of getting help now, rather than waiting. We Can Help You or the Person You Care About Get Past Their Struggle with Alcohol Alcohol is a very personal drug for most people. They do not share that they struggle with it, and they do it in private for most of their struggle. However, when you firmly believe someone you care about is going through that struggle, it is best to take a moment to help, if you can. They may not be ready or willing to listen to you putting those stats in front of them, but at least let them know you are there. Explain to them you do not want them to get into an accident, or face an Arizona DUI charge. The consequences of those actions are long-term and the cost is quite high, not just financially. If you or someone you love is in a fight for their life with alcohol, do not go through the fight alone. There are plenty of people who can and will help. Contact us or call at (602)535-6468. DUI Class Online AZ is here, ready and waiting to help you or your loved one with anything you need to break free from the grips of alcohol.

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Posts tagged "online dui course"

Understanding When You Can Face DUI Charges in Arizona

How a DUI Screening Can Help You At Court

Understanding the Effects of Repeated DUI Offenses in Arizona

Important Facts About DUIs and Alcohol