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.