Arizona DUI Fines & Sentencing

Arizona is among one of the toughest states in the nation with respect to DUI laws.  When faced with an Arizona DUI arrest and/or conviction, there are a number of issues to consider: Will you have to serve jail time? If so, for how long? Or is probation a possibility? What will you owe in fines? Will your license be suspended, and for how long? Will you have to go to a DUI school or do community service? Here are the basic laws regarding Arizona DUI fines and sentencing.

Arizona DUI Glossary of Terms
Arizona DUI Insurance Consequences
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How Does a Drunk Driving Conviction Affect Your Record?

First Arizona DUI Offense:

Criminal Status: Class 1 misdemeanor. Aggravated DUI elevates criminal status to a felony. An aggravated DUI is a DUI (impaired, per se or extreme) that is committed: (1) on a suspended, revoked or canceled license; (2) a third DUI offense in 5 years; or (3) while a person under 15 is in the vehicle.

Jail: DUI: 1-10 days. Extreme DUI: 10-30 days. Aggravated DUI: Terms in prison vary depending on violation.

Arizona DUI Fines/Costs: Minimum $250 (plus $500 for the prison construction fund and $500 for the state general fund).

-Extreme DUI: Minimum $250 (plus $250 DUI assessment, $1,000 for the prison construction fund, and another $1000 for the state general fund)
-Aggravated DUI: Minimum $750 (plus $250 DUI assessment and $1,500 for the prison construction fund and $1,500 for the state general fund).

Jail costs: An 80% surcharge on the base fine is levied on each DUI offense.

Arizona License Suspension: DUI: 90 days. Extreme DUI: 1 year. If aggravated DUI, license revoked for 3 years.

Arizona Probation: DUI: Up to 5 years (informal, may not be supervised). Aggravated DUI: 10 years.

Vehicle Impound: Yes, for extreme DUI and aggravated DUI.

Arizona Alcohol Screening/Education Treatment: Mandatory for aggravated DUI. Possible for other DUI offenses.

Arizona Ignition Interlock Device: Required for first-time, extreme and aggravated DUI offenders for a minimum of one-year.  Note, in 2011, Senate Bill 1200 has proposed to decrease the first-time offender ignition interlock device to six-months from one-year.

Community Service: May be ordered to perform community service.

Second Arizona DUI Offense Plus:

Criminal Status: Class 1 misdemeanor.

Jail: DUI: 30-90 days. For extreme DUI, 60-120 days. For aggravated DUI, maximum 2 year prison term.

Arizona DUI Fines/Costs: Minimum $500 (plus $1,250 for the prison construction and operations fund and $1,250 for the general fund).

— Extreme DUI, a base fine of $500, plus additional assessments of $250 for prison construction and operations fund and $1250 for general fund.

Jail costs: An 80% surcharge on the base fine is levied on each DUI offense.

Arizona License Revocation: 1 year revocation both DUI and extreme DUI levels. For aggravated DUI, 3 years revocation.

Vehicle Impound: If driving privilege is suspended, yes.

Vehicle Forfeiture: Yes for aggravated DUIs.

Arizona Probation: Up to 5 years (informal, may not be supervised), 10 years for aggravated DUI.

Arizona Alcohol Screening/Education and Treatment: Yes.

Arizona Ignition Interlock Device: Required for all three offenses.

Community Service: May be ordered to perform community service.

Other:

Commercial Vehicle: BAC limit for drivers of commercial vehicles is 0.04.

Under Age: 21

Arizona DUI Insurance Consequences: Link to FA Insurance site.

Arizona Open Container Laws: Yes. Driver/passenger.

Driver Responsibility Tax: No.

More Arizona DUI Information – Arizona DUI lawyers, attorneys, convictions – Arizona DUI Statutes, Resources – Do you need a DUI Lawyer?