Driving while under the influence of alcohol in Arizona is referred to as a dui. It also refers to dwi (driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired), impaired or intoxicated under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is more common in Arizona to get a dwi than to get a dui. Arizona takes prior arrests and other records into consideration when penalizing a convicted offender.
A field sobriety test or a blood alcohol estimate will confirm a dwi or dui for an officer. Dui penalties vary depending on the state the offense was made.
First time offenders can look forward to:
- Encarceration.
- Fines.
- Suspension or restriction of your drivers license.
- They may install an ignition control device. Effectively making you “blow start” your car.
- Seizure of your personal vehicle.
- Probation.
Repeat offenders can progressively get worse penalties as much as being convicted of a class E felony and sentenced to 1 - 6 years in prison.
Merely by having a drivers license you are agreeing to submit to a chemical or sobriety test. But you can refuse to comply to the “Implied Consent Law.” Of course, for the court, it implies you were in fact intoxicated. Some states have considers it a seperate crime to refuse one of these tests and charge you even further.
If convicted of a dui or dwi you could be refused car rentals, insurance, employment and more. An offense of this magnitude can sometimes follow you throughout life, so protect yourself and get good representation.
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