Repeat DUI Offenders and Severe Punishments they Face

How to Avoid Higher Penalties if You Are Charged with a DUI Again

Driving under the influence can result in serious fines and other penalties in Arizona. If you are convicted of DUI more than once, those fines and penalties can be compounded, resulting in serious consequences. Those convictions can follow for years in terms of the impact they can have on your life.

It’s very important that you hire the best Mesa DUI law office you can to represent you if you are charged with driving under the influence. The right DUI lawyers in Mesa can help you avoid conviction or can get your penalties reduced. Avoiding conviction can also help you to avoid higher penalties if you are charged with DUI again in the future.

Shot of tequila and car keys of a repeat DUI Offender

DUI Charges

There are specific guidelines for how you can be charged if you are found to be driving under the influence. You can be charged with the basic DUI if you have a blood alcohol level of between 0.08 percent and 0.14 percent. You must be also driving the car. In some cases, you may be charged if you are in the driver’s seat and the key is in the ignition.

You can be charged with an extreme DUI if you have a blood alcohol level of 0.15 percent or more. You can be charged with an aggravated DUI if you have a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more and you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You are driving on a suspended or revoked license
  • You are driving with a passenger under the age of 15
  • You refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test
  • You have been convicted of two other DUIs in the last seven years

The more serious your charge, the more severe the penalties you will face. You need to work with the best DUI defense attorneys in Phoenix you can find to prevent these charges from becoming convictions.

Increasing Penalties

Each time you are convicted of a DUI, you will face more serious penalties. The shorter the time frame between DUI convictions, the more likely the judge is to give you the most severe penalties.

The first time you are convicted of DUI in Arizona, you can be sentenced to up to 10 days in jail, be ordered to pay a $1,250 fine, and be ordered to participate in an alcohol treatment and education course and to complete community service. You will also have to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle (at your expense).
For a second offense, you can spend up to 90 days in jail and pay up to a $3,000 fine. You may have your license revoked for 12 months, and you will be ordered to the typical alcohol treatment and education course, community service, and installation of ignition interlock device.

The penalties rise with each offense. You will face more jail time, higher fines, and more time in community service. In addition, you may lose your job and you may have a hard time getting hired for years after your conviction. You may have a hard time renting an apartment or even maintaining professional licensing. Those convictions can follow you for years.

Getting Legal Help

There is too much at stake if you are convicted of driving under the influence in Arizona – whether it’s the first time or the fifth time. You need to work with the best Mesa DUI defense lawyers you can find to help you avoid conviction or to minimize the charges and the resulting penalties.

Do your research to find the best DUI defense attorneys in your area. Attempting to represent yourself or hiring an inept attorney could cost you dearly.

Call My AZ Lawyers if you have been charged with DUI. Our DUI attorneys represent clients throughout Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Glendale, and they are committed to helping our clients maintain a clean criminal record wherever possible. We’ll pursue every legal strategy to help you avoid conviction or to have your charges reduced and your penalties minimized. We understand how much of an impact these charges can have, and we believe that our clients deserve a second chance and a bright future. We’ll fight to help you get it. Call us today to talk with one of our DUI defense lawyers about your charges.

Arizona Offices:

Mesa Location:
1731 West Baseline Rd., Suite #100
Mesa, AZ 85202
Office: (480) 448-9800
Email: info@myazlawyers.com
Website: https://myazlawyers.com/

Glendale Location:
20325 N 51st Avenue Suite #134, Building 5
Glendale, AZ 85308
Office: (602) 509-0955

Tucson Location:
2 East Congress St., Suite #900-6A
Tucson, AZ 85701
Office: (520) 441-1450

Avondale Location:
12725 W. Indian School Rd., Ste E, #101
Avondale, AZ 85392
Office: (623) 469-6603