What is The Minimum Statutory Sentence on First Time Charge in DUI Case in Arizona?

Arizona DUI laws are one of the toughest in the entire United States. Driving under influence can cause severe damage to others and this offense is dealt with tough laws in Arizona. The law enforcement agencies may arrest you immediately and take samples of your blood and breath. Blood alcohol levels of more than .15 for the first two hours can call for a sentence. When faced with an arrest or conviction in an Arizona DUI case you should immediately seek help from an Arizona DUI lawyer. Let us now take a look at the minimum statutory sentence on a first time charge of Driving under the Extreme Influence of Alcohol.

• Arizona DUI may result in 30 days in jail. This sentence may be suspended by up to 20 days may upon successful completion of the alcohol screening and treatment program.
• The court may also order the defendant to undergo alcohol/drug screening evaluation and treatment/education.
• The defendant might be ordered to pay a fine of $250.00 plus surcharges.
• Your driver's license may be accessed by the Motor vehicle department in Arizona on different parameters and you may be required to go to the Traffic Survival School
• Under the DUI conviction the motor vehicle department can use its discretionary powers to suspend your privilege to drive either through the Admin Per Se/Implied Consent process.
• You may also have to pay $1000 as Arizona prison construction fine and $1000 department of public safety fine
• You may be required to pay jail costs
• The convict may also be ordered to pay $250.00 D.U.I. abatement fund fee
• You will be required to install an interlock device in your vehicle for one year after your license is reinstated.
• The court may also order you to undergo 5 year probation.
• You may also be ordered to render community service for a few hours each day
  

As per the amendment to the Arizona DUI law which came to effect on 09/19/2007, the judge can no longer suspend jail sentence. Any person convicted of DUI offense and whose blood/breathe alcohol is over .15 but below .20 has to serve 30 days in jail. In case the blood/breathe alcohol exceeds .20 the person convicted shall server 45 days in prison and pay an additional fine of $500. This also invites installing an interlock device in the vehicle for a period of 18 months. In extreme cases the vehicle may also be impounded.
DUI conviction isn’t an easy thing to deal with as it can have severe emotional strains coupled with financial loses. In case you have been convicted under the arizona dui lawsyou should immediately get in touch with an experienced arizona dui lawyer. You can clearly see some of the above statutory sentence can be extremely harsh when you commit your first offense. A good attorney will present your case carefully in the Arizona court and ensure that you get a fair trial in the court and not fall victim to overzealous enforcement.