Penalties Under Arizona DUI Laws

DUI or driving under influence is the act of operating any motor driven vehicle with weakened physical and mental abilities due to drug or alcohol intake. In order to put a check on the incidence of driving under influence, laws have been formed in all the states.

The state of Arizona also has its own DUI laws and penalties.  The state laws declare driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more as illegal. This measurement of alcohol in the blood system also referred to as the Blood Alcohol Concentration or BAC is a standard measure used in all the other states of the country.

The penalties of drunken driving in Arizona can be a jail sentence, fines and requirements pertaining to the SR22 insurance. The penalties vary depending on the DUI offense. SR22 is an official statement that will prove that you have the “minimum liability insurance” in case you have been arrested against DUI charges.

Penalties  

The penalties for DUI in the state of Arizona depend on whether you have been arrested for the first time, the second time or the third time. The penalties are more severe if you get arrested for a repeat of the offense.

If you are arrested for the first time your penalties and fines will be:

1. an amount of $200 as the DUI surcharge of the state
2. an amount of $250 as the base fine
3. an amount of $10 as probation surcharge
4. $500 for prison construction assessment
5. $500 as a fee for “Arizona Xtra DUI assessment”
6. You may have to stay in jail for a minimum of twenty four hours to ten days.
7. Your driver’s license may be suspended for 90-360 days.
8. The court may order for the installation of the ignition interlock device at your expense.

An ignition interlock device has the same functions as a breathalyzer. It is connected to the vehicle and the driver is required to breathe into it before he or she starts driving. If the device detects alcohol content exceeding the BAC, the engine of the vehicle does not start.

The penalties and fines for a second conviction of driving under influence are more severe than that for a first time conviction. These include:

1. $400 as Arizona DUI surcharge
2. $1250 for prison construction assessment
3. $500 as DUI base fine
4. $10 as probation surcharge
5. $1,250 for the purpose of Arizona Xtra DUI Assessment
6. the jail sentence may range from 30 days to 90 days
7. A minimum 30 days of community restitution may be imposed upon you.
8. the court may order for the installation of the ignition interlock device
9. Your driver’s license may be suspended for about one year.
10. you may have to attend an education or a treatment program upon the order from the court
11. You may have to go through a complete alcohol screening or other drug screening.

The fines and penalties if you are convicted for a third time are:

1. $600 as the Arizona DUI surcharge
2. $250 as the DUI abatement fee
3. $750 as the DUI base fine
4. $10 as probation charge
5. $1500 as Arizona Xtra DUI assessment charge
6. $1,500 as the prison construction assessment charge
7. suspension of driver’s license for one year
8. a jail sentence for a duration of minimum four months
9. education programs, drug and alcohol screening
10. installation of Ignition Interlock Device

Extreme DUI

Apart from the general rules and penalties, the DUI rules in the state of Arizona also have special provision for people who fall under the category of “Extreme DUI”. Any person with a BAC count of 0.15% or more before two hours of controlling any vehicle falls in the category of “Extreme DUI”.  This offense is considered as a misdemeanor. In extreme drunk driving cases, the penalties are even more severe. The offender has to pay hefty fines and his/her driver’s license is suspended from ninety days to even one year. If a person is arrested for “Extreme DUI” charges within five years of the first conviction it is considered as a second conviction.

The DUI laws in Arizona are applicable for watercrafts and aircrafts too. For more information on Arizona DUI laws and the penalties for violation visit the following websites:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/28/01381.htm or
http://supreme.state.az.us/nav2/mandatoryDUISentencingGuidlelines.pdf