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Following a DUI arrest in Surprise, Arizona, you likely have many questions and are wondering what the outcome will be. The charges you will be facing after an arrest by Surprise law enforcement will depend on the degree to which the accused is impaired at the time of the arrest. It is always in your best interest to seek assistance from an experienced Surprise DUI Defense lawyer who will protect your rights and freedom. Our local DUI lawyers can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling (480) 248-7666 or online here.
In Arizona, you can be charged with (DUI) if you are visibly impaired, or your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above .08%. A lower limit – .04%- applies to commercial vehicle drivers. There’s also a “zero tolerance” rule for drivers under 21 years of age; having any detectable level of alcohol in the blood can lead to a DUI charge.
A regular DUI in Surprise, Arizona, is a misdemeanor DUI. These are charged when driving a vehicle with a BAC of .08% or higher.
An Extreme DUI in Surprise, Arizona, is charged when someone is found driving under the influence and driving with a BAC of .15%.
An Aggravated DUI in Surprise, Arizona, is a felony DUI and may only be charged if you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs under any of the following circumstances:
Super Extreme DUI’s in Surprise, Arizona, are charged when someone is in actual physical control of a motorized vehicle under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of .20% or higher.
Drugged DUI in Surprise, Arizona, are charged as follows: Driving or is in actual or physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vapor releasing substance containing a toxic substance, or any combination of liquor, drugs or vapor releasing substances if the person is impaired to the slightest degree.
In Surprise, Arizona, if you are pulled over by a police officer on suspicion of DUI, they will subject you to a Field Sobriety Test (FST) at the traffic stop. If an officer arrests you, they will then take you to the Surprise Police Department, performing an alcohol breathalyzer test and/or blood analysis test.
Sobriety checkpoints and roadblocks are set up in particular locations to stop vehicles to investigate drivers for a possible DUI charges. DUI checkpoints and roadblocks are set up in Surprise, Arizona, by the West Valley DUI Task Force and the Surprise Police Department. In Surprise, Arizona, any driver with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher is considered intoxicated.
After a DUI arrest, your driver’s license may be suspended automatically for 90 days. If you want to preserve your driving privileges, you only have 30 days after receiving a suspension notice to file a request for a hearing with the Arizona Department of Transportation, also known as MVD.
You can request a hearing online, by mail, or by fax. You must include your name, driver’s license number, and date of birth for the hearing request. On the date of your hearing, you will appear before an Administrative Law Judge. You will also be joined by your attorney (if you have one), or your attorney can appear on your behalf.
The MDV hearing is a civil proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge formally reads your charges and asks how you plea. The judge will decide on the license suspension. The judge’s job is to establish that the officer has met their burden of proof. Any officer can testify, and it does not have to be the same officer who arrested you.
The court process for DUI in Surprise, Arizona, is a criminal arraignment. The person charged for DUI is advised of the charge against them. If the person accused of DUI pleads guilty or is found guilty, all fines accessed are due on the same day. If the person charged with DUI pleads not guilty, the Court will set a pretrial conference. This is where the person accused of DUI will have the opportunity to talk with a City Prosecutor to discuss possible plea negotiations. If the person is charged with a DUI in Surprise, Arizona, their DUI case will be conducted at Surprise City Court. The Surprise City Court is in Maricopa County. The address for Surprise City Court is 16081 N. Civic Center Plaza Suite 105 Surprise, AZ 85374.
The length of a DUI case depends on a few factors. It can take three to nine months to resolve a case.
After you have been arrested for DUI, it’s best to contact a DUI lawyer. Time is not on your side to prevent your license from being suspended.
No two DUI cases are alike, but there are set standards for DUI penalties. The DUI laws in Arizona are harsh, and some penalties include fees and fines that result from a DUI charge. There are several penalties for being charged and/or convicted for DUI in Surprise, Arizona. Penalties for DUI in Surprise, Arizona, include mandatory jail time, jail cost and jail fees, substance abuse screening, 90 days of driver’s license suspension, ignition interlock device placed on the vehicle, probation, and possible vehicle impoundment. Also, penalties may include the person charged for DUI receiving a criminal record, a driving citation that the person accused of the DUI will have to pay, DMV’s revocation of driver’s license, a restricted license, as well as the person charged having to enroll in counseling, and educational courses. These are only some penalties; however, more penalties are assessed for a person charged and/or convicted of a DUI in Arizona.
Experienced DUI defense attorneys are important because they can save a person charged for DUI from serving jail time, paying out money because of DUI fines and fees, and suspension of a driver’s license. In addition, DUI defense attorneys are important because they understand the law and work hard to help a person charged with DUI.
A DUI defense attorney is well educated and knows how the law is applied to different unique DUI situations, with an end goal to help you avoid DUI charge challenges. If you are charged with a DUI, a DUI defense attorney can defend you against DUI charges presented by assisting you through the DUI court process.
DUI defense attorneys can help a person charged with DUI by advocating for their rights in Court. As well as ensure that the person charged receives due process of law. If you are charged with a DUI, it is important to have a solid, experienced DUI defense attorney fight for your rights.
For example, suppose you are stopped while driving under the influence and charged with a DUI. In that case, a defense attorney can help you with your challenging situation. First, a defense attorney can help you by challenging any evidence held against you in a DUI case. It is crucial for any evidence being used in your case to be challenged by a DUI defense lawyer to help eliminate any discrepancies. Thus, it results in inaccurate information about your DUI charge and/or DUI case and an inaccurate DUI charge. A DUI defense attorney’s primary goal is to keep you out of jail and help you avoid costly fees and fines.
Rosenstein Law Group offers free surprise DUI case evaluations. If you are charged with a DUI, also known as drunk driving, call us today at 480-248-7666 or online here.
Our law firm represents DUI clients and handles DUI cases in the area of Surprise, Arizona. We have experienced Surprise and Scottsdale DUI defense attorneys, and if you need help, we will fight for your rights by advocating for you.