The penalties for a DUI conviction in Arizona are serious. Depending on the particular circumstances of the case, a person accused of drunk driving could be facing a misdemeanor or a felony charge. In any case, a conviction can have negative effects on your freedom, your driving privileges, your employment, your finances and even your reputation in the community.
With these issues in mind, let’s consider the case of a Scottsdale man who will now have to serve at least 10 days in jail after recently being convicted of misdemeanor DUI.
According to the prosecution, the man was seen speeding just before his vehicle ran off of Highway 87. A witness claimed the man’s vehicle hit an embankment, came back onto the road and almost collided with a number of cars before coming to a rest among some rocks.
The witness called police, who administered two breath tests, the results of which were .205 percent and .196 percent. The legal limit for driving is .08 percent.
The man ended up pleading guilty to a charge of misdemeanor DUI, and a judge gave him a 30-day jail sentence. The man is only required to serve 10 days, however, as well as complete alcohol counseling. The high level of the breath test results likely played a part in the sentencing.
Arizona residents should keep in mind that not every drunk driving charge has to lead to jail time, and not everyone who is accused of DUI is guilty. Breath tests and field sobriety tests can sometimes be unreliable, and other times police officers fail to follow proper procedure when conducting an arrest. In any case, people who have been accused of DUI should be aware of the available defense strategies.
