Posts Tagged ‘dui penalties’

Arizona DUI Penalties – A trend towards more jail time

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

While the words “expect the max” do not yet ring true in every DUI cases, there is an alarming trend towards more jail time, and less electronic home detention.

As an example, in Arizona DUI cases, it has now become accepted and normal that a first time DUI conviction requires a 45 day jail stay. This is for cases where the alcohol level is .20 or higher. At the end of 2008, AZ will require 30 days in jail for a first offense .150 or higher drunk driving conviction.

Based on the anti-DWI political climate, there appears little can be done to push back the legislative flow towards stiffer DUI penalties.

This DUI website and DUI blog is devoted to the issues surrounding drunk driving litigation.

Great DUI Case Result: Hope for justice

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Yesterday I blogged about a good but disappointing case result. Today I have better news to report. First off, let me say that the result that I wasn’t satisfied with yesterday resulted in my client paying a fine of fifteen dollars. The result that I got today for my client will result in her doing fifteen days in jail, an additional thirty days of electronic home detention, alcohol classes, thousands of dollars of fines and costs, a “superextreme” DUI on her permanent record.

Allow me to explain.

Today we had a case set for trial where my client was on her second DUI. She faced a minimum of 180 days in jail if convicted of the charge with the prior.

My client had literally changed her life since getting the DUI, and it is arguable that this DUI ultimately saved her or others’ lives. The prosecutor recognized this, and, being a gentleman and an intelligent person, agreed to dismiss the allegation of the prior and recommend the minimum (which is 45 days in jail), and to not oppose electronic home detention for thirty of those days (the minimum sentence possible under the circumstances).

With the prosecutor on board, my client took her chances and plead to the charge.

Phoenix DUI Shaming Website – Track AZ DUI Penalties

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

The Maricopa County Attorney’s website stopduiaz .com has some interesting and valuable information for those arrested for DUI in Scottsdale, Peoria, Gilbert, Glendale and Tempe. It shows each person who has pled guilty or who has been found guilty, along with their name, picture and the sentence they received.  These are for misdemeanors.

The website also features selected vehicular felonies and their prison sentences.

What the website does not tell us is if, or how much jail time, was suspended for each sentence listed.