In Arizona, there are different levels of DUI based on the degree of intoxication. If you are charged with extreme DUI, you are facing harsher penalties than with a standard DUI, and your best course of action is to get an experienced lawyer on your side right away. Call Scott David Stewart today for the dedicated extreme DUI defense you need.
Our state separates DUI charges into levels. If you are over 21 and driving with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher, you can be charged with DUI. If your BAC is .15% up to .20%, it is charged as extreme DUI – a more serious offense with harsher penalties. This holds true if you test above .15% within two hours of driving a vehicle.
As stated in Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-1382, it is unlawful for a person to operate a vehicle in this state if, within two hours of being in control of the vehicle, the person has blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher. (Anything above 0.20% is charged as super extreme DUI.) Extreme DUI is a class one misdemeanor, the same as standard DUI, but it carries penalties that are more severe. Unlike with lesser DUI charges, the prosecutor must have a blood alcohol test showing that your BAC was above .15% within two hours of the time you were driving to prove that you are guilty of extreme DUI.
Penalties for extreme DUI depend on prior convictions.
A first offense of extreme DUI is a class one misdemeanor, punishable by:
As with other criminal charges and standard DUI, penalties for extreme DUI increase after the first conviction. A second-offense extreme DUI within 84 months of the first carries penalties including:
If you have been charged with extreme DUI in Surprise, Arizona, you are facing severe penalties including jail time, heavy fines, and loss of your driving privileges. Conviction can have serious impact on your life for years to come.
It is in your best interests to speak with an experienced DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Scott David Stewart for a free case evaluation. Our attorneys can develop the strongest possible defense in your case against extreme DUI.