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Is Arizona One Of The Worst States For Holiday Drunk Driving?

The holidays are a special time of year full of food, music, and togetherness. All of those things can be even more fun if you add some alcohol. A glass of eggnog or a full bottle of wine can help lubricate awkward political discussions and inappropriate family gossip. If someone wants to get plastered to deal with the stress of the holidays, that’s their own business- until they decide to get behind the wheel of a car. Holidays are notorious for being the biggest weekends for DUI busts both in Arizona and nationwide. With some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the country, you may be wondering how our state compares with the rest of the country. Stay safe this holiday season and avoid getting behind the wheel after enjoying some holiday cocktails. If you do experience a holiday arrest in Arizona, you need a strong defense to avoid our state’s harsh DUI penalties. To schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced criminal defenders, call 480-470-1504.

Visiting From Another State? Here’s What To Know About Arizona’s DUI Laws

There are two major parts of Arizona’s DUI laws that make it a relatively strict state when it comes to the offense. The first is that A.R.S. § 28-1381 requires that all defendants convicted of DUI serve time behind bars. Most states will let first-time offenders off with a slap on the wrist, but all defendants convicted of DUI are subject to mandatory jail time. The only exception is if the driver was under 21 years old and under the legal limit. Here, the driver can bypass jail time but could have their driving privileges suspended for up to 2 years- some find this penalty worse to have travel limited during such a pivotal time.

Another aspect of Arizona’s DUI law worth noting is that at a BAC of .08, a driver is presumed to be intoxicated. But in Arizona, a driver who has a BAC of .05 to .08 can be charged with DUI if law enforcement determines them to be impaired, even to the slightest degree. Defendants convicted of DUI to the slightest degree still have to complete jail time. For most people, a BAC of .05 is only one or two drinks. Whenever possible, arrange for a rideshare or a sober driver for your holiday celebrations.

How Does Arizona Compare To Other States When It Comes To Drunk Driving?

If you’ve ever driven down Scottsdale Road on a Saturday night, you’ve probably seen police officers pulling over a driver to potentially cite them for drunk driving. But most states have similar nightlife areas where there can also be drunk drivers out on the loose. Depending on where you’ve been in the country, you might or might not be surprised that Arizona is not on the list of the ten worst states for drunk driving in the United States. The ranking was based on data like what percentage of traffic deaths were caused by drunk drivers, how many DUI arrests there were in that state, and how many drunk drivers were involved in fatal crashes. The worst 10 states for DUI are as follows:

Montana- 43.51% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
South Dakota- 35.14% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
Texas- 42.37% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
Wyoming- 34.55% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
North Dakota- 32.67% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
Oregon- 35.89% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
New Mexico- 32.02% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
South Carolina- 33.47% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
Missouri- 28.54% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers
Oklahoma- 25.20% of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers

It probably isn’t surprising that from these statistics, the 21-to-24 age group and 25-to-34 age group had the highest rates of drunk driving fatalities, accounting for 27% of fatalities each. The next highest group was 35-to-44, accounting for 23% of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes. Teenagers still account for a significant percentage of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes- 17%- despite not being at the legal drinking age.

How Much Will A DUI Raise Insurance Rates?

Being convicted of a DUI is an expensive experience from start to finish. DUI convictions carry serious fines, but there are also hidden costs that will follow you for years if you wish to continue driving. Drivers convicted of DUI are required to obtain SR-22 auto insurance, which is a form of high-risk auto insurance that is much more costly than a standard policy. On average, a DUI defendant can expect their rates to increase by about 66% after regaining their driving privileges. So if your policy costs about $2,000 per year, it could cost $3,300 per year or more after a DUI conviction in Arizona.

If you are arrested for DUI while violating other traffic laws, you can receive separate charges for those offenses, and your penalties can be stacked. Driving without insurance can raise your rates by 17%. Causing an accident resulting in property damage or physical injury will also raise your rates by nearly 50%. If you are facing multiple charges stemming from a DUI arrest in Arizona, you need to thoroughly defend each of the allegations. Arizona’s DUI laws are already notoriously strict, and additional offenses will only make your potential penalties even worse. Fight back against charges of DUI and related offenses with qualified and experienced defense representation. For your free consultation with one of our skilled Arizona defense lawyers, call 480-470-1504.

Increased DUI Rates During The Holiday Season

One might think that as years go by, more people would be educated about the risks of drunk driving and the phenomenon would slowly fade. However, throughout the years, one consistency during the holiday season has been increased rates of DUI arrests. This year has been no exception in Arizona. Since Thanksgiving, there have been an average of 80 DUI arrests per day. Experts estimate that approximately 2 million people will be traveling on Arizona’s roads on Christmas, so this could be the biggest DUI weekend of the year. There have also been increased arrests for marijuana DUI.

Because there are more people on the road during the holidays, and some of them intoxicated, there are also more police officers on the road during the holidays. Arizona has a holiday DUI task force meant to address increased DUI rates throughout the season. This task force continues through New Year’s Day. If you’re one of the approximately 1,500 Arizona drivers arrested so far by the holiday task force, you need effective legal strategies to mitigate how much this conviction will impact your life. DUI cases can move quickly and your defense will be stronger when you have more time to prepare. Don’t hesitate to schedule your free consultation with our firm today at 480-470-1504.

Arrested For DUI During The Holidays In Arizona? Let Our Experienced Lawyers Review Your Case, Free Of Charge.

One thing to be grateful for this holiday season is that Arizona isn’t on the list of worst states for deadly DUI crashes. However, with the holiday DUI task force in full swing, the chances of being arrested for DUI are significantly higher. If you find yourself facing a DUI charge, contact us at My AZ Lawyers for expert legal representation to help you navigate this challenging time.

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