Extreme DUI Lawyers & Attorneys In Phoenix Arizona
Extreme DUI Defense
While most DUIs are “simple” and result from a traffic stop or a minor accident, there are also DUIs that are considered “extreme.” That term has a definitive legal meaning in Arizona; an “extreme DUI” is a DUI charge based on a blood alcohol content between .150 and .200 percent. Under the Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 28-1382, extreme DUI can incur harsher penalties than a standard DUI.
A conviction for extreme DUI may include the following penalties:
- Driver’s license suspension
- Fines of about $2,700
- Jail time of at least 30 days for a first offense, with a maximum of six months
- Mandatory ignition interlock device installation in vehicle for one year
- Court-ordered counseling or substance abuse treatment
A second conviction within seven years constitutes even harsher penalties, including a minimum of 120 days in jail, $3,700 in fines and community service as well as extended probation, ignition interlock and counseling requirements.
The Secret of Extreme DUI
So far, extreme DUI sounds like a pumped-up version of a regular DUI. However, this is not the case. Extreme DUI is, in fact, always a third offense charged along with a DUI for impaired in the slightest degree and a DUI above .08 percent BAC. In order to win a verdict, a prosecutor must show that you were in control of and operating a motor vehicle within two hours of the time that your blood was tested to be above .15.
This is a “secret weapon” in the prosecutor’s arsenal. He or she knows that this charge gives room for negotiation while still obtaining a DUI conviction. Even if you are not convicted on the extreme DUI, you still have two other DUI charges to fight. The public perception of the extreme danger of these types of DUIs gives prosecutors support to push for these charges.
It is vital that you have the right legal representation if you are charged with an extreme DUI. The consequences for a conviction of this type of DUI are very serious. Fortunately, a good DUI attorney may be able to help you have the extreme DUI dropped to a regular misdemeanor DUI or even dismissed altogether, depending on the circumstances of your case.
DUI defense attorneys are available for a free, no-obligation consultation. Find out about your rights under the law and learn ways you can minimize the damage from an extreme DUI charge.