Leave it to the Arizona legislature to create a solution for a non-existent problem. If you watch the news in Arizona, then you are familiar with the spate of wrong way drivers on our highways. The Department of Transportation has taken steps to minimize this by installing signage and detectors, but nevertheless, wrong way drivers cause injuries anddeath.
Arizona law already considers cars to be dangerous instruments. If you drive while impaired and are involved in a collision, including a wrong way collision, that causes death or serious physical injury, then you will be charged with aggravated assault or vehicular homicide, depending on the facts. These offenses already require mandatory prison time and area huge punitive disincentive for people to avoid driving the wrong way, especially when impaired.
This was apparently not enough for our state legislature, however, which has gone to include wrong way DUI’s into the category of offenses that will be prosecuted as felony Aggravated DUIs, regardless of any other factors. What this means is that regardless of your criminal history or lack of prior DUI convictions, if you drive while impaired and happento drive against traffic and are convicted, then you face a Class 4 Felony. With it comes a mandatory prison sentence of at least 4 months before any probationary period starts. Not to mention the loss of your civil rights and a permanent felony conviction on your record for the rest of your life.
There is no doubt that driving the wrong way, especially when impaired, is dangerous. But this was a problem that already had a solution. It now places those people who truly deserve second chances in grave risk. If you are facing an Aggravated DUI for driving the wrong way, contact the Rosenstein Law Group todayat 480-248-7666 or contact us online for a free consultation. Don’t let legislative caprice ruin your good name and record. Let us help you preserve your rights.
