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Glendale DUI Lawyers

1. Cork, James: DUI and Criminal Defense If you have been charged with a crime you have the right to hire an attorney who will protect your interests. There are many Phoenix area lawyers to choose from, but it is important to hire an attorney who is willing to put in the extra effort that your specific case requires. At our office your case will be given all the attention it deserves. Arizona has enacted some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the country. DUI is a very complex field with increasingly harsh consequences. There can be complicated procedural, evidentiary, constitutional, sentencing and administrative license issues. Our office can help by reviewing your case for errors, filing appropriate motions to suppress evidence, compel discovery of relevant evidence, negotiate for a lesser charge or reduced sentence, contest the administrative license suspension, etc.
2. Newman, Harold: * Felony & Misdemeanor Crime, including: o Armed Robbery o Assault and Battery o Burglary o Domestic Violence o Kidnapping o Murder and Manslaughter o Theft * Warrants * White Collar Crime * Drug Offenses, including: o Trafficking o Manufacturing o Possession * Juvenile Delinquency Matters * Sex Crimes, including: o Sexual Assault o Date Rape o Indecent Exposure * Traffic Offenses, including: o Driving under the Influence (DUI) o Vehicular Manslaughter o Reckless Driving o Hit & Run * Investigations * Expungement Motions * Probation Violations * Weapons Crimes * Resisting Arrest
3. Zavala Law Offices: Deportation defense before the Immigration Judge Appeals to the BIA Petitions for Review Writs of Habeas Corpus Writs of Mandamus Petitions for Naturalization Hearing Federal civil and criminal appeals Criminal defense Federal Crimes 1326 Charges (Illegal Presence after Re-entry) Constitutional Violations Forfeiture Defense
4. Rohlwing, Gary: If you've been accused of a crime, don't take it sitting down! Felonies & Misdemeanors Burglary Robbery Breaking & Entering Criminal Traffic Offenses Drunk Driving DUI & DWI Extreme DUI Drug Offenses Meth Methamphetamines Assaults Aggravated Assault Fraud Theft Sex Offenses Homicide Juvenile Cases Shoplifting Weapons Offenses
5. Reasons, Wendy: The first thing that you need to do if you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI is to contact a lawyer who will challenge the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) license suspension right away and will send a notice immediately. The penalties for a DUI conviction, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony conviction, can be severe. Those accused of driving under the influence cannot afford to waste time without an attorney on their side. Felony and Misdemeanor DUI Convictions Both misdemeanor and felony DUI convictions carry with them strong penalties, but a felony-level DUI can mean four months' mandatory minimum time in prison. A misdemeanor starts from one day in jail, depending on the blood alcohol level, to more jail time and fines of $1,500 and up. A felony DUI can potentially result from any of the following: * License is suspended or revoked * Driving with children 15 years or younger * Third DUI in the last seven years * Driving intoxicated with an ignition interlock device When you have been accused of a DUI, whether it may be a felony or misdemeanor, it is extremely important to have a lawyer who is very familiar with DUI law in Arizona.
6. Cheryl Brown:

   Arizona law generally concerns three levels of drunk driving, with graduated penalties for each:

   1. Driving Under the Influence (DUI), also called Driving While Impaired (DWI) Ñ Blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or more
   2. Extreme DUI Ñ BAC of .15 percent or more
   3. Drivers under age 21 can be convicted of DUI / DWI if they have any alcohol in their system (i.e., .01 percent BAC), as well as being charged with minor in consumption or minor in possession, which can affect their driver's license for up to 2 years, regardless of whether or not you were driving.
   4. State law also establishes a lower BAC threshold of .04 percent for those with a commercial driver's license (CDL) and >commercial truck driver DUI.
   5. Driving under the influence of drugs carries the same penalties as alcohol DUI.
   6. State law establishes that a BAC of .01 percent to .08 percent could result in a DUI under the "to the slightest degree" rule.

   Severe Consequences for a Drunk Driving Conviction

   Arizona levies tough DUI penalties for those convicted of impaired driving. Sentencing depends on the level and circumstances of intoxication, prior convictions, and the court where your case is heard. First offenders, will serve 24 hours in jail, while a second or third offense may result in substantial jail or prison time, respectively. Other criminal penalties include fines, alcohol and substance abuse treatment, traffic survival school, and ignition interlock devices. In addition, the MVD will suspend your driver's license for a period of time, and your auto insurance rates may skyrocket.

   There are many valid defenses to DUI / DWI, and it may make sense in your case to challenge the charges at trial. Because of the increased danger associated with tractor-trailers, buses, delivery vans, and other commercial vehicles, truck drivers are held to a lower threshold for driving under the influence in Arizona. By state law, CDL-licensed drivers are charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor DUI if they are found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .04 or greater. The charge applies whether the driver was on duty or in his or her own vehicle at the time. Your CDL license and your livelihood are at risk, and it is critical to fight this charge as vigorously as possible. I am an experienced criminal defense attorney who concentrates largely on DUI offenses. I have represented numerous clients arrested in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and throughout Maricopa County, including CDL truckers stopped on Highway 101, I-10, I-8, or I-17 while hauling through Arizona. Penalties for Commercial Driver DUI If convicted, minimum DUI penalties for a CDL license holder include: * Driver's license revoked for one year * Substantial fines and penalties * Probation up to 5 years * 8 points assessed against your driving record Refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test will result in an automatic one-year suspension of your license, regardless of the outcome of criminal charges. A second offense refusal can result in permanent loss of your CDL license. Challenging a Commercial License DUI Because of the .04 threshold, there is a substantially larger margin for error in the blood and breath analysis. This is one basis we can examine for fighting a CDL drunk driving charge. I examine every fact of the case during the discovery phase to find any viable grounds for a legal challenge: * The officer's "reasonable suspicion" to pull you over * The officer's "probable cause" for arrest based on field sobriety tests or roadside breathalyzer results * Violation of your rights (request for an attorney, Miranda warnings) * Impropriety or error in collecting and analysis of blood-alcohol samples If I do not believe we can win in court (dismissal of charges or favorable jury verdict), I will diligently negotiate with the Prosecutor for a reduced charge (e.g., per se DUI, or reckless driving) that may enable you to continue in your trucking, bus driver or other CDL career.

7. John Phebus: Our drunk driving statutes are now enforced rigorously, prosecuted zealously and provide for substantial punishments.

   This is proper. It is also proper, however, that we remain vigilant in safeguarding the rights of individuals charged with DUI and related criminal offenses.

   The Charge

   Over the years, the publics perception of drunk driving has evolved. What the public once viewed as a common indiscretion is now viewed as a serious crime and public health hazard. State legislatures all over the country are engaged in a feeding frenzy of "feel-good" legislation in response to pressure exerted by well-financed political interest groups. As a result, ordinary citizens -- many of whom are not intoxicated or impaired at the time of driving -- are being arrested in record numbers and forced to defend against criminal charges. Given our current political climate, DUI is a serious criminal charge.

   In 1996, over two-million people were arrested in the United States for DUI/DWI. More people are charged with "DUI/DWI" than any other criminal offense. That year, 43,040 DUI cases were processed in Arizonas limited jurisdiction courts (i.e., Municipal Courts, Justice Courts) alone. In the City of Phoenix, 93% of all persons charged with DUI pled guilty without going to trial to fight the charges against them. By pleading guilty, they gave up their right to have a trial before a jury; to confront their accusers; to refute the evidence against them and to force the government to prove each element of every charge against them beyond a reasonable doubt.
    

   Possible Penalties

   1st Offense Misdemeanor

   The maximum potential penalty is 6 months in jail, 5 years of probation, a fine of $2,500 with a surcharge of approximately 70%, alcohol counseling, and the loss of your license for at least 90 days. The minimum penalty is 10 days of jail with the possibility of 9 days suspended pending the alcohol screening and counseling. The normal fine is approximately $400. The one-day of jail required must be served. There are additional penalties within the court's discretion. 
   
   2nd Offense Misdemeanor

   The maximum penalty is the same as a first offense except that the second conviction in 5 years will result in the revocation of your driver's license for one year. The minimum penalty is 90 days in jail with the possibility of 60 days suspended pending the alcohol screening and counseling. The normal fine is approximately $800. Your license will be revoked for one year. There are additional penalties within the court's discretion. 
   
   Extreme DUI

   If your blood alcohol level is .150 or greater within two hours of driving based on a blood, breath and / or urine sample, you could be convicted of EXTREME DUI. This offense is also a misdemeanor offense. However, the Court will be required to sentence you to a minimum 30 days of jail and suspend your license for one year. Normal fines are approximately $400 with the same screening and counseling requirements as the other misdemeanor offenses. If this happens to be your second misdemeanor DUI offense, then you will also faced enhanced punishment including 120 days of jail with the possibility of 60 days suspended and a fine of approximately $800. There are additional penalties within the court's discretion. 
   
   Work Release/Home Arrest

   If you are sentenced to serve a jail sentence, the court has the discretion to allow you work release from the jail. You may be required to serve one or two days in jail prior to your release taking effect. Although the statutes provide for home arrest, the courts do not have a system in place to allow for it. 
   
   Aggravated DUI

   It is a felony to get a third DUI in five years or any DUI while your driver's license is revoked, suspended or restricted for any reason. If you are convicted of a class 4 felony, you will face a possible prison sentence. Normally, you will receive a grant of probation. However, if granted probation, the Court is required to incarcerate you in the State Prison for 4 months as a condition of probation. As a felony, the maximum fine you could face is $150,000. You will have your license revoked for at least 3 years. There is no work release. In addition, the State may forfeit your vehicle. There are additional penalties within the court's discretion. If you are convicted of a class 6 felony, you will also face the three-year revocation of your driver's license, the same fine as above, and the possibility of incarceration ranging from 4 months to 2 years. The penalties are even more severe for a second offense Aggravated DUI or if you have any prior felony convictions.

   As a DUI lawyer, what would you do if you were stopped for a DUI? 

   1. Immediately request an attorney -- Ask officer to note time of my request.
   2. Refuse to answer ANY questions (Other than name and address).
   3. Produce requested documents ... be polite even if the officer isnt.
   4. Refuse ALL field sobriety tests.
   5. Take a breath/blood/urine test.