Aggravated DUI
Facing an aggravated DUI Arizona offense is a serious legal issue and should not be ignored. No matter the extent of your DUI charge, if you face a felony in Arizona you will need a defense lawyer. The community has implored the government for many years to enforce more extreme consequences in Phoenix and other cities in the United States. The government has instituted these more severe consequences for an aggravated DUI in Arizona.
Arizona’s “aggravated” DUI law imposes stiffer penalties for certain DUI offenses. A DUI is an aggravated offense when the offender drives under the influence:
- having been convicted of two prior DUIs within the past 84 months (even if the priors weren’t committed in Arizona)
- while the driver's license is suspended for a previous DUI arrest, conviction, or chemical-test refusal
- while someone younger than 15 years old is in the car, or
- after having been ordered by a court to drive only with an ignition interlock device (IID).
- while driving the wrong way in a highway
A driver convicted of an aggravated DUI for having a passenger younger than 15 years old is guilty of class 6 felony. The other three types of aggravated DUI are class 4 felonies.
Drivers convicted of aggravated DUI must serve either ten to 45 days in jail or four to eight months in prison, depending on the type of aggravated DUI conviction. Convicted drivers also face at least $4,000 in fines and assessments, a mandatory 12-month license suspension, and if the DUI involved alcohol, there’s a 24-month IID requirement. All drivers convicted of aggravated DUI must complete drug screening and treatment; offenders who don’t comply risk being sent to prison for up to three years and nine months.
If you, a family member or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) anywhere in Arizona, you need accurate information to help guide you through the first steps of the process. People are not prepared for what follows after being stopped by law enforcement and no one expects to be arrested for driving under the influence.
Hiring an Experienced DUI Attorney
Hiring a experienced and locally based DUI attorney is an important step in the DUI criminal process. A Gilbert DUI lawyer should be hired within the week following a DUI arrest. A skilled DUI attorney should have specialized knowledge and access to the resources necessary to competently defend you and successfully fight your DUI charges.
The criminal DUI defense attorneys at Gilbert DUI Lawyer are dedicated to providing the highest-quality defense available to our clients. It all starts with your free case review, where you can get a better idea of the legal road ahead. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary and private consultation with our superior DUI lawyers.