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What Are Some Issues With Getting A Car Out Of Impound?

Different police agencies handle impounding vehicles in different ways. The officer could sometimes be nice enough to leave the vehicle where it is parked if the person was stopped in a parking lot. Sometimes officers will actually move a person’s vehicle in order to pull it into a parking spot or park legally on the roadway so the suspect can get their vehicle when they are no longer impaired.  Generally speaking, police agencies here in Maricopa County usually have internal rules that state if someone was arrested under suspicion of extreme DUI their vehicle will be impounded for 30 days.

The harsh part is that a lot of times, the officers go after the portable breath test result, which is not considered reliable enough to use against the person in the court of law. If the person gave a portable breath test result above 0.15, but then ended up doing a breath testing on an Intoxilyzer 8000, which is considered reliable enough to use against them in the court of law, and that result came back below 0.15, the officers would still able to impound the vehicle based on the unreliable portable breath test result. The vehicle would generally be impounded for 30 days.

The officer could either park the vehicle and impound the keys so the suspect could come back to the police station to pick up the keys the following day, or they could impound the vehicle for 30 days. There are only a few legal ways to get a vehicle out of impound before the 30 days are up. One way would be for someone else whose name is on the title to go in and pick up the vehicle prior to the 30 days.  The other way would be for the spouse of the client to go in and pick up the vehicle.

Usually, if another person on the title or the spouse went to pick up the vehicle before the 30 days were up, it would be very likely they would have to sign a contract stating the person who was operating the vehicle at the time of the DUI would not be allowed to operate that vehicle for one year, regardless of them still having a valid driver’s license the day after the arrest. Their license would usually be suspended for 90 days total for either being suspected or convicted of DUI, and this contract would preclude them from operating that vehicle for one year.

Can An Attorney Help Get The Car Released From Impound?

It does get more expensive. I can advise my clients regarding the options that might be available to them. It is not necessarily a criminal aspect to the case and it is not necessarily concerning representation on a DUI, so in a way, it is more of a civil issue whether the vehicle was wrongly impounded or not. It is normally something the client would handle on their own and, generally speaking, there is not much an attorney can do to assist them in getting their vehicle back other than alerting them to the general rules under police policy and Arizona law.

What alternative transportation options does someone have?

Nowadays, there are some fantastic options in Maricopa County. Lift is a fantastic option, and there are options available for people who realize at the last minute that they drank too much and probably should not be driving. There is even a tow truck that will pick up the person and drop them home while towing their vehicle to their house.

Most options are reasonably priced, and there are options available in Maricopa County such as the light rail system and the bus system, and anyone would be willing to help someone who asked for help rather than letting them drive drunk and face potential consequences of a misdemeanor or felony charges.

For more information on Releasing Your Car From Impound, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you’re seeking by calling 480-900-0384 today.

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Brian Douglas Sloan

DUI ATTORNEY


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Best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix

Why DUI Attorney Brian Douglas Sloan?

19+

19+ Years SOLELY Focused on DUI Defense

4,200+

4,200+ DUIs Successfully Defended

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  • Only DUI "Power Lawyer" in the Nation Featured in USA Today, 2022

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“I am one of only a handful of Phoenix DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.”

I have spent my entire career focused on Arizona DUI Defense representation, having personally defended over 4,200+ DUI clients in the past 19+ years.

If you’re looking for a divorce attorney, tax attorney, or civil attorney, I can comfortably say, "I’m not the one for you."

Coming up with traditional, as well as outside-the-box motions and defenses for my clients, often with good results, is the hallmark of my practice.

Lawyers that say they are "aggressive" or "will fight for you" are a dime a dozen. They use these phrases because they think people want to hear them. Being "aggressive" isn’t the same as being good and is often used to put on a show to hide the fact that they aren’t doing anything meaningful for the client.

The same is true for the lawyers claiming to do DUI Defense, Criminal Cases, Accident Cases, and Divorces. A Jack-of-all-Trades is a master of none! By handling all sorts of cases, they take away from their ability to truly focus on DUIs, and keep up to date on the latest changes in Phoenix DUI Defense Representation.

What I offer is intelligent, quality DUI Defense at an exceptional price.

I have not only taught other lawyers how to do DUI Defense Representation at statewide seminars, but I produced DUI Legal Guides used by defense lawyers across Arizona.

I am one of Arizona's most award-winning DUI Defense Lawyers, recognized nationally, including in a 2022 issue of USA Today.

There are no other private DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona that have personally defended more DUI cases than I have. And as a bonus, I offer a flat rate for my legal services without any hidden charges. This guarantees that I offer some of the most competitive rates among all Arizona DUI Attorneys, while being the preeminent leader in the field of DUI Defense Representation.

Over the years, countless people have come to me after discovering that their first lawyer made a mistake, gave them false hope or false promises, or simply took their money and didn't do much to advance their case. And you would be surprised at how often this happens.

So, instead of wasting time and money on the wrong DUI Defense Attorney, do yourself a favor and get the proven and documented best DUI Lawyer in Phoenix and the surrounding areas of Maricopa County.

You can reach me on my cell phone: 480-720-7839.


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Brian Douglas Sloan

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