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All over the country, there are laws and rules in place to keep you and your family protected and safe. DUI charges are in place to keep people from driving while intoxicated, quickly putting themselves and others in harm. Many people do not realize that there are different classifications for DUIs as well as various charges and consequences for each.

An extreme DUI involves a blood alcohol level of between .15-.20, which is almost twice the legal limit. If you are driving with that high of a blood alcohol level, you can face various charges, including jail time and a suspended license.

This article will cover what precisely an extreme DUI is, the charges you will likely face, as well as more information to guide you on what steps to take next.

What is an Extreme DUI in Arizona?

Arizona is one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to DUIs. A typical DUI is an alcohol level over the .08 legal limit. Extreme DUIs include anyone that has a blood alcohol level over .15 to.20. There is also a super extreme DUI that is any alcohol level over .20.

If you are caught with a blood-alcohol level almost twice the legal limit, you will face far harsher crimes than a typical DUI. If you decide to drink, you should not put yourself in a situation that you are behind the wheel of a vehicle. Arizona is not lenient when it comes to driving while intoxicated and is incredibly strict with the consequences if you are caught.

What are the penalties for getting an Extreme DUI in Arizona?

An extreme DUI in Arizona comes with harsher consequences and penalties than a typical DUI. Arizona has laws that make consequences for an extreme DUI a lot more brutal than most.

There are a variety of consequences depending on whether it is your first, second, or third extreme DUI and knowing the difference in each is essential. Each category of DUI has different consequences and fines that you will have to pay.

For example, your first extreme DUI, you will have to pay over 2,000 dollars in fine. You will also have to either spend 30 days in jail or have an ignition interlock system installed in your car. Besides that, you will have your license suspended for up to 90 days and a variety of other consequences.

If you get a second extreme DUI within seven years of your first extreme DUI, then the consequences will increase. For a second extreme DUI, you will have to pay over 3,500 dollars and serve up to 120 days in jail. You will also have your license suspended and be required to install an ignition interlock system in your vehicle.

Arizona has stringent rules to keep you and your family safe and discourage you from driving after you have been drinking. No matter if you are charged with a typical DUI, extreme DUI, or super extreme DUI, you will have to serve some amount of jail time. Arizona laws also require you to install an interlock ignition device in your vehicle.

Is an Extreme DUI considered a Felony in Arizona?

When you begin to hear the words extreme and super extreme, it is easy to assume that you are being charged with a felony charge. Both extreme DUIs and super extreme DUIs come with intense consequences and fines, but they are still considered misdemeanors.

An extreme DUI charge can become a felony when your DUI charge is considered an aggravated DUI. An aggravated DUI charge is based on a variety of situations and includes multiple scenarios. You can be charged with an aggravated DUI if you are driving on a suspended license, there are kids in the car, going the wrong way, and more. If you are charged with an aggravated DUI, you could face felony charges.

Can an Extreme DUI be reduced?

Within the past few years, Arizona laws continue to require jail time as well as an ignition interlock device. While Arizona continues to be the strictest in the country when it comes to DUI, they have added ways to reduce the jail time you are required to serve.

You can reduce your jail time sentence by choosing to install an ignition interlock device right off the bat. By installing this device sooner rather than later, you can significantly reduce your jail time sentence. Before the new laws, you had to serve 30 days in jail before you even got the option of installing a device. With this new law, you have the opportunity right away, giving you a chance to lessen your jail time quickly.

Besides the changes in the law, allowing you to lessen your jail time with an interlock ignition device, there are also plenty of other options. Arizona has alternative sentencing programs that give you choices in how to serve out your consequences. You can choose to serve out your terms by doing home detention or attending an alcohol rehab program. You can also choose to participate in the work release program, which allows you to work during the day and return to jail at night.

What to do if you Get Charged with an Extreme DUI?

If you or a loved one is convicted of an extreme DUI, it is hard to decipher laws and get you exactly what you need to get you back on your feet. Many people do not realize their options to reduce an extreme DUI charge as well as jail time.

Reaching out to an Arizona attorney allows you to be confident that you or your family member is getting the help they deserve and you are on the right track to recovery. Arizona attorneys know the laws backward and forwards and will lay out the exact steps to take if you are charged with an extreme DUI.

Conclusion

A DUI in any form or fashion is nothing to mess with, so taking the time to learn about how you can protect yourself or a loved one is essential. Besides a typical DUI, there are also classifications of an extreme DUI and a super extreme DUI.

All DUI charges are considered misdemeanors unless they are labeled as an aggravated DUI. An extreme DUI involves a blood alcohol level over .15 but under .20 and comes with various consequences such as fines over 2,000 and jail time. A super extreme DUI is a blood alcohol level over .20 and comes with penalties over 3,000 dollars and more jail time. Arizona has the strictest DUI laws in the country, so it so important to know what steps to take next.

No matter what kind of DUI charges you face, it is imperative you reach out to an Arizona attorney as soon as possible. Arizona attorneys are ready and prepared to help you and your family in any way they can. They are incredibly knowledgeable and are prepared to get you on the right track to get you the help you need. Arizona attorneys will lay out your options for how to reduce your extreme DUI charges and what steps to take to get on the road to recovery.