In the State of Arizona, an aggravated DUI is a class 4 felony charge. These types of charges carry harsh penalties. If convicted, drivers face a mandatory minimum prison sentence — even if it is their first charge. There are certain things that a police officer can find out that may lead to an aggravated DUI charge versus a typical DUI. Therefore, it’s important to hire an experienced aggravated DUI lawyer who understands DUI laws in Arizona to represent you.
About Arizona DUI Laws
Anyone that is over the age of 21 or older with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher can be charged with a Standard DUI as well as those under the age of 21 with any alcohol in their system. The difference between a standard DUI and an aggravated one is determined by several factors, including if someone’s license was suspended, restricted or revoked at the time of the arrest if they’re driving with an interlock ignition device in their car, if there was a child under 15 in the car, or if someone has had two prior DUI convictions within seven years of a recent DUI arrest. All these factors can lead to an aggravated DUI charge in Arizona.
Penalties for Aggravated DUI
For one’s first aggravated DUI offense, one can expect to spend four months in jail, have their license revoked for at least three years, be on supervised probation, and to attend substance abuse classes. Second aggravated DUI offenses can lead to up to seven years in prison as well as the other things listed above. Third and subsequent charges can lead to six to 15 years spent in prison.
Understanding Aggravated DUI Penalties in Arizona: Why You Need a Phoenix, AZ Attorney Who Specializes in Aggravated DUI Criminal Charges
Deemed more serious than driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) on their own, aggravated DUI carries much more harsh penalties because the crime itself is far more serious — but, criminal charges for an aggravated DUI offense do not always need to result in a conviction — the burden is on the court to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt that you are entirely at fault for the precise charges levied against you.
That means that the prosecutor has to prove every single element of your specific aggravated DUI offense, and that’s not as easy as you might think — although it can be with the wrong defense. If the judge or jury has even one iota of doubt about any aspect of the charges, they must be thrown out or dramatically reduced, depending on your unique circumstances.
For this reason and many others, it’s imperative that you hire an aggravated DUI attorney in Arizona who knows exactly how to handle aggravated DUIs in Phoenix based on experience, not on what they think might work, or what may have worked in previous cases where the circumstances were different from yours. After all, these are serious charges that carry with them some very serious consequences — if you want to ensure your absolute best outcome, the only way to do so is with an Arizona DUI attorney with experience handling the very serious criminal charges associated with aggravated DUI cases in the state of Arizona.
Call to Schedule a Legal Consultation with Experienced Aggravated DUI Lawyers Today
At Shah Law Firm, our team of aggravated DUI lawyers understands DUI laws. We can represent those facing these types of charges. While investigating your case, we can attempt to get you reduced or dismissed charges. To schedule a no-cost legal consultation with us today, call our Arizona law office today at 602-560-7408. We serve clients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Goodyear, and Apache Junction, AZ.
