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Phoenix DUI Attorney

Phoenix DUI Attorney

Were you or a family member recently arrested on DUI charges in Phoenix, AZ? It’s easy to feel like you have no choice but to sit back and accept your punishment. In reality, there are many ways to fight a DUI charge and win. Call an experienced Phoenix DUI lawyer at Orent Law Offices to start building your defense strategy today if you’re facing DUI charges.

Our founding attorney has over 30 years of experience helping clients fight criminal charges. assault defense, Phoenix domestic violence, drug charges, sex crimes, theft crimes, DUI, federal crimes, Phoenix juvenile crimes. Our legal team will use that experience to your advantage.

You probably have many questions if you’ve been charged with a DUI. Call our law firm in Phoenix, Arizona at (480) 656-7301. to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.

How Orent Law Offices Can Help if You Were Arrested for a DUI in Phoenix

How Orent Law Offices Can Help if You Were Arrested for a DUI in Phoenix

Being arrested for a DUI can be a frightening experience. Even if you’re a first-time offender, you can face jail time and steep financial fines. With an aggressive legal defense, it can be possible to minimize these and other negative consequences. An experienced Phoenix DUI lawyer may even be able to get your case dismissed before you go to trial.

At Orent Law Offices, our team is led by a Certified Criminal Law Specialist who has been voted as a Top 100 trial attorney by The National Trial Lawyers. We can provide valuable insight into state prosecutors’ tactics to convict.

When you have our lawyers by your side, expect us to:

  • Offer sound legal advice, including about whether to accept any plea bargain
  • Challenge the prosecution’s evidence at every turn
  • Identify the strongest available defense strategies in your criminal case
  • Fight to have your license reinstated if it’s been suspended
  • Negotiate behind the scenes for reduced charges if possible
  • Advocate for your rights in court

If you’re facing criminal charges, you deserve the strongest defense possible. Contact experienced criminal defense attorneys in Phoenix, AZ to create an attorney-client relationship and get the legal representation you deserve.

Overview of DUI Laws in Arizona

As in every other U.S. state, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) in Arizona. 

You can be convicted of a DUI under Arizona law if you were driving or in physical control of a motor vehicle, and the prosecution can prove any one of the following:

  • You were under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a toxic substance and were impaired to even the slightest degree
  • You had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more within two hours of driving or controlling the vehicle, and you consumed the alcohol before driving or while driving
  • Any amount of certain listed drugs, including cannabis, were present in your body
  • You were operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or higher

Arizona prosecutors can convict even if your BAC was under 0.08%. They can also convict on DUI charges if law enforcement does not obtain a blood alcohol test. On the other hand, if your BAC was at least 0.08%, prosecutors can presume that you were under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

If the police detect drugs in your system, the prosecution can convict you of driving under the influence even if you had a valid prescription.

A DUI is usually a Class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona.

Aggravated DUI Charges

Most of the time, a DUI is a misdemeanor. However, there are certain aggravating factors that can elevate a DUI to a felony charge under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-1383.

You can be convicted of a felony for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol if:

  • You were convicted of a DUI while your driver’s license was suspended, canceled or revoked
  • The DUI was your third DUI conviction within a seven-year period
  • Someone under the age of 15 was in the vehicle at the time you committed the DUI
  • You were driving under the influence while you were ordered to have an ignition interlock device in your vehicle
  • You were driving on the wrong side of a highway when you were pulled over for the DUI

Aggravated DUI is typically a Class 4 felony. However, if your charges were elevated because someone under the age of 15 was in the vehicle, it’s a Class 6 felony.

What are the Penalties for a DUI in Phoenix, Arizona?

The penalties for a DUI conviction depend on your BAC level and whether you have any prior DUI convictions within the previous seven years.

For a first-time DUI conviction, your penalties can include:

  • At least ten days in jail
  • At least $1,250 in financial penalties
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device
  • Community service
  • Random alcohol screening
  • Court-ordered drug or alcohol counseling or treatment

For second and subsequent DUI offenses, the penalties become harsher and include:

  • A minimum of 90 days in jail
  • At least $3,000 in financial penalties
  • A 12-month driver’s license suspension
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device
  • Community service
  • Random alcohol screening
  • Court-ordered drug or alcohol counseling or treatment

The penalties for a DUI conviction are harsh, even if you’re a first offender. However, it may be possible to avoid jail time and steep financial penalties. An experienced Phoenix DUI attorney at Orent Law Offices can help you fight to beat the charges. Call us to schedule a free case review and learn more about how our experienced team can make a difference in your DUI case.

Penalties for Extreme DUI Charges

Under Arizona DUI laws, the penalties become much more serious if your blood alcohol content is higher than 0.15%. In other words, the case becomes much more serious if the police find that you were under the extreme influence of alcohol.

If your BAC was at least 0.15%, but less than 0.20%, you could be convicted on “extreme” DUI charges. 

Penalties for an extreme DUI include:

  • At least 30 days in jail
  • At least $2,500 in fines
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
  • Community service
  • Random alcohol screening
  • Court-ordered drug or alcohol counseling or treatment

For a second offense with a BAC of between 0.15% and 0.20%, your jail sentence will increase to 120 days. You’ll also be ordered to pay financial penalties of $3,250 and lose your license for 12 months in addition to installing an IID.

If your BAC was .20% or higher, you could face super extreme DUI charges.  If it’s your first offense, you will be required to serve at least 45 consecutive days in jail, pay a fine of at least $2,750, and complete court-ordered treatment or rehabilitation in addition to installing an IID in your vehicle.

Penalties for Aggravated DUI

Aggravated DUI is a felony offense. If convicted, you’ll face:

  • Up to two years in prison
  • At least $4,000 in financial penalties
  • A one-year driver’s license revocation
  • Alcohol screening, education or treatment
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
  • Community service

You’ll also have a felony on your criminal record. That means you may have to disclose your conviction when you apply for a job or try to find housing. 

Regardless of the severity of your DUI charge, it’s always important to have an aggressive defense strategy. Our DUI defense lawyers know which strategies are most likely to work in Maricopa County Superior Court or city courts. To learn more, call for a free initial consultation today.

What Defenses Can I Raise if I’m Arrested for a DUI in Phoenix?

The first step in any case involving vehicular crimes is to develop a legal defense to prove your innocence. There are many ways to challenge a DUI arrest in Phoenix.

Depending on the facts of your case, your defense may include:

  • The police lacked probable cause for the traffic stop
  • Other constitutional violations
  • Challenging the validity of the breathalyzer or chemical testing
  • Identifying problems with the arresting officer’s administration of field sobriety testing
  • You were not driving or in physical control of the vehicle at the time

Even if convicted or accept a plea bargain, a skilled lawyer can work to minimize the adverse consequences of the conviction. Our lawyers in Phoenix may present mitigating factors that can reduce or eliminate your jail sentence.

Examples of mitigating factors include:

  • You have no prior DUI convictions or criminal history
  • You’re obtaining drug or alcohol counseling and treatment
  • You’ve cooperated with law enforcement throughout the legal process
  • You didn’t cause an accident or injuries

Don’t risk your future by trying to build your own defense strategy. Our lawyers have years of experience handling cases like yours and will carefully evaluate your case. We’ll build an aggressive and custom-tailored defense that’s designed to get the best possible results in your case.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Phoenix DUI Lawyer

Judges and prosecutors in Phoenix take DUI charges very seriously. You should expect the prosecution to do everything possible to convict. Our lawyers at Orent Law Offices will work tirelessly to protect you. Don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation with a Phoenix DUI lawyer today.

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Orent Law Offices, PLC

11811 N. Tatum Blvd. STE 3031

Phoenix, Arizona 85028

(480) 656-7301

 

Orent Law Offices Phoenix Criminal Defense Law Firm

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