Information about the novel coronavirus dominates news reports on Phoenix-area TV and radio stations – with much of it grim. There are sometimes reports about individual acts of heroism and bravery by first responders, doctors and others, however, as well as stories about how Americans are pulling together to contain and defeat the virus.
It is not difficult to understand why there has been a dramatic drop-off in DUI arrests: traffic across Arizona is significantly sparser than it was just a few weeks ago before the pandemic hit the U.S. hard.
According to a spokesperson with the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were slightly more than 5,000 drunk driving arrests from January to mid-April of this year. Compare that figure from the same time period a year ago, when there 7,500 people charged with driving under the influence in our state.
The difference in the two arrest totals works out to a decrease of about 33 percent from last year to this year.
Of course, it was left unsaid in the news report, but the fact is that no matter when you are charged with DUI, the potential punishments for a conviction are the same: jail time, heavy fines, loss of driving privileges, required installation (at your expense) ofan ignition interlock device, mandated substance abuse classes and the likelihood that you will have to pay significantly higher car insurance premiums when you resume driving.
You don’t have to resign yourself to those harsh punishments, however. The Rosenstein Law Group is ready to fight to protect your license, freedom and rights. Contact our office to schedule a safe consultation about your DUI defense.
