Prior to the change in Arizona DUI laws in 2012, there were always four (4) mandatory requirements for any AZ DUI conviction:
1) Jail Time
2) Fines and Fees
3) Alcohol Classes
4) The mandatory use of an Ignition Interlock Device
However, the changes in the Arizona DUI laws in 2012 have affected the mandatory requirements for any AZ DUI conviction. The most notable change involves the jail time component.
With the right attorney, jail time for AZ DUI cases involving BAC’s (blood alcohol concentrations) of .15 or more can be significantly reduced. It is also possible (although improbable) that a defendant with a BAC of less than a .15 could completely avoid jail time. That possibility is a result of a change in language within the Arizona statute. Itseemed innocuous, but it changed a requirement from “24 hours” to “one day”. This seemingly minor change can allow for circumstances in which no additional jail time need be served.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Arizona, you should hire an experienced Arizona DUI defense lawyer to represent you. Remember that the other three requirements are still in place, despite the changes in the law. See if hiring the right attorney could help you avoid having to have the requirement of having an ignition interlock installed in your vehicle.
