Arizona First Offense DUI Laws
The regulations surrounding DUI offenses in Arizona are stringent and perplexing for individuals facing their initial charge. As a newcomer to this legal process, it's natural to be filled with questions and apprehensions about the potential impact on your life. Experiencing an arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated can be intimidating and anxiety-inducing, particularly for those with no prior DUI convictions. Contacting a skilled DUI lawyer can provide invaluable guidance on the legal avenues available to first-time DUI defendants.
Under the DUI statutes of Arizona, it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle or be in physical possession of it while being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Although the legal limit for impairment nationwide is set at .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood, under ARS §28-1381, which outlines the laws pertaining to impaired driving in Arizona, a driver can still be charged with DUI even if they are impaired to the slightest degree.
Here are possible first-offense DUI charges:
- Regular DUI: If you are at least 21 in Arizona, you may be charged with DUI if your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is over .08% (for commercial vehicle drivers, the limit is .04%, and for those under 21, the limit is 0.00%).
- Aggravated DUI: this is one of the first-offense DUI charges that a person can face in Arizona, and it can be issued if there was a child under the age of 15 in the vehicle at the time of the citation.
- Extreme or Super-Extreme DUI: These convictions are possible for individuals with elevated levels of blood alcohol concentration or drug content (BADC) and carry harsher penalties.