Steps To Take After An Extreme DUI Arrest

The consequences for an extreme or super extreme DUI are very severe and must be taken seriously. If you have been arrested for an extreme or super extreme DUI, contact Matthew Lopez Law, PLLC, immediately. Because of the harsh penalties associated with these charges, you will need an experienced DUI attorney to fully evaluate your case and fight toward reaching a favorable outcome. Mr. Lopez is an accomplished, well-respected criminal defense lawyer, who has devoted countless hours to researching Arizona DUI laws and developing effective defenses.

Arizona Law: Extreme DUI Facts

Arizona law provides that a person may be charged with an extreme DUI if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is greater than .15 within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle.

Although a regular DUI and an extreme DUI are both class 1 misdemeanors, an extreme DUI carries harsher penalties. If convicted, a person shall be sentenced to not less than 30 days in jail, pay jail costs of approximately $100 per day, incur fines of approximately $2,700, have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for 12 months and attend alcohol screening and classes.

In addition to the penalties imposed by the court, a person convicted of an extreme DUI will have a class 1 misdemeanor conviction on their criminal record, which could affect their career and education.

Arizona Law: Super Extreme DUI Facts

Pursuant to Arizona law, a person may be charged with a “super extreme” DUI if, within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle, they have a BAC of over 20. If the law enforcement agency who arrested or cited you uses blood to determine blood alcohol content, it is possible your citation may only indicate lower-level DUI charges. Once your blood alcohol is analyzed to reveal a blood alcohol concentration of greater than .20, the court will amend your DUI charge to include a super extreme DUI.

If convicted of a super extreme DUI, a person shall be sentenced to 45 days in jail, incur fines of approximately $4,600, have an interlock device installed in their vehicle for 18 months, pay jail costs and attend alcohol screening and classes.

Even if it is your first-ever DUI, the consequences for a super extreme DUI are severe. Depending on the court, a person could be sentenced to up to 45 days in jail, incur a driver’s license suspension, receive an ignition interlock requirement, fines and be ordered to complete alcohol education courses.

Defenses Against A DUI Charge

Because of the harsh penalties associated with an extreme and super extreme DUI, as well as the future ramifications of a class 1 misdemeanor conviction, it is important that you take your charge seriously and hire a criminal defense lawyer who will do everything they can to get charges reduced or dismissed. Matthew Lopez knows how to scrutinize the procedures in which a client’s blood alcohol content was determined and how to conduct independent testing of our clients’ BAC. Because BAC is an integral fact, it is critical that you are represented by an experienced DUI attorney who knows how to determine if the state’s reading of your Blood Alcohol Concentration is correct and whether your BAC is admissible. If we determine that there has been an error, it is possible to have your charges reduced to a regular DUI or completely dismissed.

To achieve our goal, it is important that we carefully review police reports, interview police officers and witnesses and hire experts to retest our clients’ blood and scrutinize the manner in which the police department analyzed blood work. If we do our investigation properly, we will be able to find a flaw in the DUI investigation that will allow us to formulate critical arguments in an effort to provide clients with the outcome they deserve.

Let Us Help You With Your Extreme DUI Case

If you have been arrested for an extreme or super extreme DUI, contact a lawyer at Matthew Lopez Law for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case. We understand the stress and consequences associated with these charges and will use our experience to help provide you with the best possible results. Call 602-960-1731 or email us for an appointment.