The Lurking Ramifications of a DUI Conviction

The Importance Of Hiring A Professional DUI Attorney In Arizona

We all make mistakes sometimes – sometimes even criminal mistakes. If you are convicted of driving under the influence, that’s not a mistake that you can learn from and move on easily. That’s a mistake that will stay with you for a long time to come. The consequences will ripple throughout the years.

Hiring a great Mesa DUI lawyer is critical to protecting your future. A good DUI defense lawyer in Mesa can help you avoid conviction or can help get a reduced charge and sentence. To help you understand why this is so important, consider the lurking ramifications of a DUI conviction:

First-Time DUI Conviction

To be convicted of a DUI, you need to be shown to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs while you were driving. In the case of alcohol consumption, this is usually done through a blood-alcohol test. If your blood-alcohol content is 0.08 or higher, you will be charged with DUI. Other tests and evidence will be used to show you are under the influence of drugs.

In Arizona, the consequences for a DUI conviction include:

• 10 or more days in jail
• Fine of at least $1,250
• 90 day driver’s license suspension

The driver may also be ordered to undergo alcohol or drug education or treatment and to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle.
The conviction and jail time alone are enough to follow a person for years, as these create a criminal record. With a criminal record, any person will have a hard time getting a job, possibly renting a place to live, or even serving in volunteer positions.

Aggravating Factors

When you consult with a DUI attorney in Phoenix, you’ll learn that there are many circumstances that can increase the consequences you face. To start, an additional DUI conviction within a certain period of time will automatically increase the jail time you are sentence, the fine you must pay, how long you lose your driving privileges, and more.

Another aggravating factor for your DUI that can increase the penalties you face is the extent of your inebriation. The higher your BAC is, the more severe the consequences will be. In Arizona, if you have a BAC of .15 or more, you will be charged with an extreme DUI, which comes with a sentence of 30 days in jail and a minimum fine of $2,500.

You can be charged with an aggravated DUI if you are found to be driving under the influence while you have had your driver’s license suspended or revoked, if you were driving with a passenger 15 years or younger, or if you were driving with an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. You can also be charged with an aggravated DUI if it is your third DUI offense. An aggravated DUI conviction will lead to up to two years in prison, a license revocation of a year, and other penalties.

Long-Range Consequences

Serving your jail time and paying your fine will not be the end of the consequences you face if you are convicted of a DUI. The charge will follow you for a long time to come, making it hard for you to do many things.

To start, you will pay much more to be insured to drive. You may even have a hard time getting an insurance company to offer you coverage. You’ll pay more for insurance or for insuring yourself. Having a DUI conviction on your record will also make it hard for you to get employment, to rent a home or apartment, to get a volunteer position, to maintain professional licensure, and more. These are consequences that can have a domino effect on other aspects of your life, making it hard for you to do many things.

You must work with the best Phoenix DUI defense lawyers you can find to fight your DUI conviction. Otherwise, you run the risk of having this charge follow you for years, negatively impacting numerous aspects of your life.

Call My AZ Lawyers to talk with one of our DUI defense attorneys and learn more about your options for fighting your charges. Our Mesa DUI attorneys will explore every legal option for helping you to avoid conviction or to get a reduced charge or reduced penalties. Our goal is to help you move forward after your arrest and protect your future. We serve clients in Mesa, Glendale, Tucson, Phoenix, and the surrounding area. Call us today to talk with one of our DUI lawyers.

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