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What Are the Punishments And Fines For DUI In Arizona?

Interviewer: How many days in jail does a person get for DUI in Arizona?

Brian: It is one day, up to six months, on a first ever DUI. That is just because it is a Class I misdemeanor. There is no required sentence. There is no starting point sentence. That judge has complete open range to decide whether it is appropriate to give someone as low as one day in jail, or as high as six months in jail.

As far as fines and fees, the minimum required in Arizona comes to about $1,500 on your first ever DUI conviction. You already have at least one day in jail, and now you have at least $1,500 in fines and fees.

You are also required to have an ignition interlock device for one year. There is a certain circumstance where you could maybe get that reduced to six months. However, the ignition interlock device costs you some money as well.

You also have to go through counseling, which costs money and takes a lot of time. You have to go through alcohol or drug screening, counseling, education and/or treatment at an approved facility. You may have to do probation. Sometimes probation comes with fees. Again, your license is going to be suspended for the 90 days.

There is a lot a person has to go through, simply because they had one too many to drink and was maybe weaving down the street. Surprisingly, most DUIs are stopped.

Most of the people suspected of driving under the influence are stopped- not because they are weaving all over the road- but because they are driving at 1 or 2 in the morning. They happen to be out, and an officer will look for an excuse to pull them over. Commonly, we find people are stopped because they forgot to turn their headlights on or they had a license plate light out.

Also, Arizona law says the person has to turn into the closest lane practicable. According to the language, “They must turn into a lane, where practicable.” If you make a left turn, you have to end up in the closest lane to your turn. If you make a right turn, you have to end up in the closest lane to your turn. If you make a wide turn, that is a reason to pull you over.

Now, everyone makes a wide turn. It has nothing to do with impairment. Officers use excuses; such as these wide turns, failure to use a turn signal, speeding, license plate light or cracked windshield.

They really have nothing to do with impairment. Officers are particularly looking for these things as an excuse to pull someone over. Also, Arizona law says an officer can pull a person over for an actual or suspected traffic violation, which really allows officers to have carte blanche to pull anyone over.

That officer never needs to prove anything. All the officer needs to say is, “I think he was speeding.” They do not have to prove it. There does not have to be video. They do not need to have another witness. They do not need to have a radar reading.

Simply saying, “I thought he was speeding” is a good enough reason to stop a person and launch a DUI investigation.

By Brian Douglas Sloan

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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

Top Accolades

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

  • Top 10 in Arizona

Top 1%

Top One Percent in the Nation

Superb 10/10

AVVO.com

Preeminent
4.9 / 5.0

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brian sloan on the cover of attorney at law magazine

“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

DUI Attorney

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2 N. Central Ave Suite 1929
Phoenix, AZ 85004
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