Arizona dui lawyers: March 2012

Monday, March 26, 2012

What to Expect Following a DUI Arrest

The DUI cases or the driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol has always been one of the major concerns - so the DUI cases are treated as criminal cases be it major or minor. In addition, since the DUI cases are treated as criminal cases anywhere over US, you can well imagine the dire consequences of the cases and thus the need to hire the best DUI lawyers. Other than involving heavy penalties, it may also include spending some time in the jail and giving up your privilege to drive along with the personal freedom. No wonder people dread the DUI cases and try and hire the best possible DUI lawyers - be it the Indianapolis DUI attorneys and the Denver DUI lawyers who will help you before things get complicated and goes completely out of hand as most will complain of an intimidating experience.

But before you are arrested for DUI, the police officer confirms you were under the influence of drug or alcohol and certain test are carried out -the most common being the blood and the urine test. You may also be asked to go through a breath analyzer. You might be asked whether you are under the influence of anything or not, but it is best to avoid these questions as this will go against you in the court and let it be handled by the DUI lawyers. If you are arrested by a police officer for DUI there are possibilities that you will spend the night in jail as you still don't have the DUI attorneys till then and even if you don't have any DUI history! However, the worst part is that you will lose your car as well along with the car being impounded and all necessary fees will be applicable.

So the first thing that you can do is hire DUI attorneys at the first possible chance as you will need an experienced lawyer who knows to deal with these to help you out. It is to be noted out here that you are innocent until proven guilty by the court and you have all the right to hire DUI attorneys to fight for you and it will prove to be advantageous. Generally, after 24 hours of the DUI arrest, you will be required to make a court appearance and you as the defendant will be asked to plea- guilty, not guilty or no contest. However, the consequences of DUI vary from state to state, including the increase in auto insurance. Since the person is emotionally upset at the given time, it is wise to hire DUI lawyers.

As soon as the DUI lawyers are hired, you will be advised on your constitutional rights and the lawyers specific to a particular state like the Indianapolis DUI lawyers and the Denver are better to be hired if in those particular states.

Should You Hire A Lawyer If You've Been Charged With A DUI

Arrested and charged with a DUI? Thinking about getting a lawyer to represent you?

Many people choose to drink alcohol from time to time, and unfortunately, sometimes people choose to drive after they've had enough alcohol to put them over the legal limit.

Getting charged with a DUI can cause a lot of stress, worry, and apprehension. Part of this stress comes from the ramifications of the charge: most people know that DUIs can carry harsh penalties, but let's examine exactly what those penalties are:

If someone happens to be pulled over in Florida while driving with a BAL (blood alcohol level) of 0.08 or above and charged with a DUI, the consequences can be quite severe. For example, according to the Florida DMV, a first conviction can bring with it fines of $250 to $500, 50 hours of community service, up to a year of probation, up to 6 months of imprisonment, license revocation for a minimum of 180 days, and 12 hours of DUI school.

A second conviction can involve a fine of not less than $1,000, and up to 9 months imprisonment. The fines can be higher if your BAL is 0.15 or higher.

Subsequent convictions carry even heavier fines.

To add to the stress of having to potentially deal with those, there is also anxiety from having to go through the court process -- especially if the person has no experience with court. It can feel intensely overwhelming!

Consider it from a psychological standpoint:

- the looming dread of knowing that you're potentially going to get in (a lot of) trouble - having to go through an unfamiliar process (court) - potentially having to defend yourself against people who are familiar with all the details of the law, meanwhile you know very little - having to deal with it all alone

Each of those feelings builds on the next one and the result is additional stress and anxiety.

If you choose to represent yourself you may end up bearing the full brunt of all of these.

A DUI lawyer can work with you and the court to potentially lessen the fine. Simply having someone in your corner who can not only explain everything to you but who is also working in your best interest can help make the process a lot less stressful for you.

A lawyer may bring to light evidence which casts doubt upon the evidence presented against you. Sometimes law officials make mistakes, and a lawyer is going to be much better able to analyze and examine the data from this process in order to look for mistakes which may work in your favor than you are.

In some cases, it may even be possible for a lawyer to get the charges dropped without ever having to go to court.

Lawyers may often have relationships with judges and can leverage this to your advantage. He may be able to negotiate a reduced penalty better than you would be able to if representing yourself in court.

There is one primary objection that people tend to have toward getting lawyer, however, and that is cost. Many people instinctively think "lawyers are expensive!" The issue, however, becomes a personal choice of whether or not the potential benefits of having a lawyer on your side outweigh the added cost. Retaining a lawyer may cost more money upfront, but what if doing so allows you to get a reduced penalty, or even avoid a conviction altogether? Is that better than risking a suspended license (which may make getting to work more difficult), community service (which takes away time you could be spending with your family) or even possible imprisonment?

That choice comes down to what you decide is your best option.

Reasons To Keep In Touch With A DUI Lawyer

Life is unpredictable and accidents may occur anytime and anywhere. A person in Tucson may find himself arrested for driving under influence. Whether or not a person is truly guilty remains to be decided by the court. So, it is important to have regular touch with a DUI lawyer. A person does not know when he might need such legal services, so he should have access to a reliable, qualified and experienced DUI lawyer.

One major advantage of having access to an experienced and competent DUI lawyer is that in case of unexpected arrest, the legal practitioner can come to the rescue of the accused person at the police station on a mere phone call. Also, the police allow a person to contact his legal representative, if the accused has one. Keeping prior contact with a reliable and experienced lawyer is very important, as a person accused of the charges does not have to rely on someone he scarcely knows. A good DUI lawyer keeps himself up to date with the constantly changing laws of Arizona. He will explain all the rights to his client. Most ordinary people are not acquainted with the laws of the state. So, prior knowledge will not allow any unscrupulous police officer to take undue advantage of him.

Another major reason in keeping prior contact with a DUI lawyer is, in case a person gets arrested; his legal representative can immediately bail him out. However, the conditions of bailing will depend on the severity of the crime the person is charged with. A lawyer can also negotiate the bail amount in court. A person without any proper legal representative puts himself in a disadvantage. Only an experienced DUI lawyer can get the best terms for bail. In case, an offense is done against the person himself, the attorney is the best positioned to advice him when and how to take legal action. The legal representative will also weigh the chances of winning the suit and advise his client accordingly. Even if there is a poor chance of success, the attorney will prepare the client beforehand, so that sudden trauma and stress do not cause harm to the person's health.

Phoenix DUI Charges and Legal Process

DUI in Phoenix can be charged in two ways. The first is driving impaired. Driving impaired suggests that your capability to operate a vehicle has been jeopardized from the ingestion of alcoholic beverages or another drug. Since you aren't breaking the "per se" statute, driving impaired is not as severe a criminal offense as DUI. The "per se' law is whenever your BAC is.08 % or more.

Phoenix drunk driving laws cover almost anything that you need a permit to operate. This would cover cars and trucks, jet skis, motorbikes, and may even extend to bicycles. seem tough to believe, but it is true. Whenever you're under the influence of a substance that reduces your mental capability to control a vehicle, you are subject to Phoenix laws. Driving a car while being impaired by alcohol consumption is definitely the main instance of Phoenix DUI arrests. Even so, many other substances are widespread as well. These include marijuana, cocaine, meth, tranquilizers along with other well-known drugs.

Phoenix DUI laws do not allow driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.08 % or higher. If you're stopped while driving a car and has a BAC of .08 percent or greater, you are going to be arrested and charged with DUI.

Listed here are the legal ramifications plus the legal process for DUI in Phoenix.

The fines and punishments with regard to a Phoenix DUI will be different based on the circumstances of the criminal offense, and whether or not there is a track record of earlier offenses. However a Phoenix DUI is still a significant charge. If found guilty you are facing a large fine, driver's permit suspension, and possibly other restrictions. Hence, even if this is your first DUI, you have got to consider this a major predicament.

First violations seldom entail prison time except if the DUI incident included a physical injury or death.

A Phoenix DUI usually is a misdemeanor except if: 1. If in the last five years you have been convicted of 2 or more DUIs. This is applicable even if the DUI was in another state besides Arizona. 2. If you have had your drivers permit suspended and you're driving under the influence 3. A child younger than fifteen is in the automobile at the time of the drunk driving criminal offense.

A more significant charge of third degree homicide or vehicular homicide often is the end result when there is a death as a result of the drunk driving.

Typically a Phoenix drunk driving case is a tried by a jury. If you choose, you may give up the right to having a trial by jury. If that's the case, your judge will rule.

Due to the fact Phoenix drunk driving cases are such a common legal offense, there are plenty of Phoenix DUI lawyers to help you in defense of the offense. Actually, there are many attorneys that will only handle DUI cases. These attorneys are often called 'DUI attorneys'. Since driving under the influence is a really serious charge, it is strongly suggested that you consult with an attorney without delay after receiving charged. You obviously want to select the most effective Phoenix DUI attorney for your case.

Obtain Criminal Arrest Records Effectively

It's more than just a desire to maintain any public records, it is like an obligation mandated by law to keep Arizona arrest records up-to-date. Similar to any other public documents, the state's arrest records are accessible to anybody who has different legal purposes. The state's delegated officials who handled the records have placed all the related reports at the Criminal History Records where everyone can directly go and request for them.

Each state has their own policy in dealing with the said public documents. In Arizona, such important public files are only disclosed to the certified government offices and particular individuals. Transactions done at the government agencies are normally time-consuming due to all the formalities that they typically follow. You need to specifically state your reason for requesting such official documents and comply with the other paper requirements needed along with the process.

Well, that was the scenario many years back, but nowadays, such pertinent public reports can already be retrieved in just a few clicks on your computer. In other words, you no longer bother requesting for the legal documents at the designated office. Instead, you can gather the important Arizona criminal records via online. The Internet is the best source of factual pieces of information these days. The services offered are not only fast, but are also of high-quality as expected.

There are some dependable websites on the web which categorically supply the services needed to get the necessary data for whatever legitimate reasons. You may visit some of the online review sites to ascertain if a particular site can help you with your endeavor. Both the free and paid record services are available on the web, but the latter is more credible in terms of the standard of its search results and it is relatively fast in performing the whole process.

It is very significant that authorities should document the state of Arizona arrest records. Such legitimate public reports cover all the arrests that took place in the state. The designated government agencies normally kept the personal particulars of the criminal offenders for various violations. Every detail of the crime is provided in order to supply the individuals with the precise bits of information that they need for some reason.

The most important thing this time is that you no longer have problems in gathering data on arrest records or any other public records. With the advent of modern computerization and the Internet, the public arrest records are obtainable within just a few minutes. Plus, it is very hassle-free as you can manage the search by yourself at the convenience of your own home. This is totally more straightforward than digging-up such documents at the government agencies.

Lawyer Job Description

Everyone views the job of a lawyer as something really awesome and cool. Blame on TV shows like Boston Legal, but the job of a lawyer has gained quite a lot of publicity and fame. Which brings us to the main topic that apart from saying, "objection, your honor" in a very saucy way, what is the job description of a lawyer?

Job Description of a Lawyer

Lawyers come in two broad categories: the criminal lawyers and the corporate lawyers. Corporate lawyers are those who specialize Corporation Laws. Criminal Lawyers, on the other hand are those lawyers that plead on behalf of a criminal in the court of law.

Corporate Lawyer Job Description A corporate lawyer is the one who specializes in the law, which deals with the operations of businesses in any country. The corporate lawyer has to make sure that all the transactions and deals made by the client company are within the framework of the law. A corporate lawyer may work as an individual entity or for a law firm. A corporate lawyer may also be a direct employee of the company. The job of a corporate lawyer is mostly advisory. If the company wants to take any decision, they usually refer to the corporate lawyer to examine the legality of their decision. The corporate lawyer also has to lay down the procedure which the company has to follow while implementing the decision. The corporate lawyer also has to draw up all the paperwork of the company. A corporate lawyer also has to go to the court, if any cases are filed against a client company, to prove the legality of the decisions which they have taken. A corporate lawyer also has to be conversant with various other laws in the country, namely, tax laws, contract laws, bankruptcy laws, laws relating to intellectual property, securities laws and zoning laws. While these are the basic laws which corporate lawyers are expected to know about the other laws, which they should have by the employing company.

Criminal Lawyer Job Description A criminal defense lawyer is the one who is employed by a person who has been accused of committing some crime. A criminal lawyer also files a case against a person who has committed a crime. The job of a criminal lawyer is not only restricted to the knowledge of the laws. A criminal lawyer is also expected to go beyond what's written in the book and do a bit of investigation as well. The job of a criminal lawyer is most often in the courtroom where he has to represent his client. He is not only one who possesses the knowledge of laws, but a corporate lawyer is also the representative of the client. A criminal lawyer appointed by the plaintiff has to study the facts and make a case for the plaintiff. He has to arrange the witnesses for the case which will back up the claims of the plaintiff as proof. The criminal lawyer for the defendant has to find a way to refute the claims of the plaintiff in the court of law and if his client is totally checkmated, plead guilty and hope for a reduction in the punishment meted out to his client.

If you are very interested in the field of law and want to learn how to become a lawyer, read on.

The job of a lawyer is indeed a fascinating one. It's an arduous task to gain mastery on all the laws, but the real job of a lawyer goes quite beyond the book. The success of a lawyer lies in his/her confidence and the ability to convincingly present a case.

How To Find The Best DUI Lawyer

When people face DUI charges they are tempted to just plead guilty because they are scared of the consequences of opposing a charge brought against them by the government or the police. While it is true these are institutions that wield tremendous power, the fact of the matter is that there are always provisions in the law to endure that the power delegated to them is not misused. If you have been wrongfully accused or if the degree of crime you have been accused of is not commensurate with your actual behavior; you can always turn to a court of law.

To take on the mighty institutions that pull people up for DUI, you will have to match their aggression at every step; right from the pre-trial stage to the courtroom. And to ensure you that you do not get a raw deal that may even land you up behind the bars, you should choose a DUI attorney very carefully.

An experienced attorney can often drastically alter the outcome of a case related to DUI. Tucson has lawyers who have been in this field for quite a few decades and are familiar with all the tricks of the trade. Some lawyers are capable of only routine tasks like filing petition. Hence, you should actively search for a lawyer who has a track record of success. Since many DUI cases are dismissed on technical grounds, it is always worth every penny of your money to consult a really renowned legal professional.

Even if your case moves to the courtroom, if you have good legal representation, your representative will know what to do to convince the jurymen that you do not deserve the punishment that the opponent wants the State to inflict on you. If you have flimsy legal representation, your arguments will cut no ice after the scathing verbal attack that your opponent may unleash.

While your lawyer ought to be aggressive while arguing for you or negotiating a settlement, he or she should sensitive to your situation when you are facing DUI charges. If the person is not capable of understanding your mental condition and allows you to take things easy, you will be stand to be the loser.

How Much Does a Lawyer Make

Being a successful lawyer has always been a dream of young college students. However, only those who are genuinely interested in this field can survive here for a long time. The competition here is very tough you will need a bachelor's or preferably a master's degree in law from a reputed college to make a place for yourself. Lawyers are of different kinds - tax lawyers, business lawyers, criminal defense lawyers, immigration lawyers, etc. All these lawyers are known to earn well, if they have sufficient years of experience. Let us know how much does a lawyer earn in the succeeding paragraphs.

Lawyer Income Details

As per the various salary surveys, the median salaries for lawyers is around USD 92,000. However, the salaries for the beginners having less experience were found to be in the range of USD 30,000 to USD 42,000. On the contrary, the highly experienced and successful lawyers who have spent ten to fifteen years in the legal field can easily earn around USD 150,000. The salaries for lawyers with three to five years of experience can be anything in between USD 40,000 to USD 60,000. From this annual earning data, you can easily guess how much does a lawyer make monthly.

The main aspect of the job of tax attorneys is related to the important tax laws and the Internal Revenue Service. The tax attorneys have a profound knowledge of the rules and regulations of income tax, gift tax, property tax, excise duty and international taxes and they provide proper service to their clients by explaining these concepts to them in an easily understandable manner. These types of lawyers cater to individual tax payers as well as the corporate clients. In the case of corporate clients, the income generated by the tax attorneys is much more than that compared to the individual clients. The lawyers who have their own law firm are known to earn more than those who work in private or government organizations. A good tax lawyer is aware of the changes made in the system and helps the common people understand the laws which might be difficult to grasp from the law books. Now, let us discuss the income of the tax lawyers. While the salaries in the rural areas are believed to be in the range of USD 35,000 to USD 50,000, those working in the urban areas can draw around USD 60,000 on an average. On the upside, the salaries can go as high as USD 100,000 with sufficient years of working experience. The tax lawyers or attorneys are believed to earn a decent salary, especially in the metropolitan cities.

The business lawyers too are very much in demand, as their work is associated with giving legal guidance or assistance to the corporate and business powerhouses. Business lawyers either work as permanent employees or on a contract basis for reputed multi-national companies. The median salaries for business lawyers can be in excess of USD 100,000, with around ten years of experience. However, in some exceptional cases, the lawyer salaries can be more than USD 175,000. From this data, it is not difficult to calculate how much does a lawyer make per month.

A criminal defense lawyer, whose job is to defend the people accused of different kinds of criminal offenses can expect to earn anything in between USD 55,000 to USD 75,000 after a few years of quality experience. The highly experienced criminal defense lawyers are known to earn handsome salaries in excess of USD 170,000 per year.

Though this article has answered your question - how much does a lawyer make, you will have to work hard to achieve these salaries. Lawyers, who give special attention on increasing their legal knowledge with every case have a bright future in this field.

DUI Lawyer - Do You Really Need To Hire One

Do you find yourself in trouble due to a DUI and need to locate a good DUI lawyer to represent you, but don't know if this is really necessary? There are some essential reasons that you really do need to have good legal representation.

Knowing these reasons will help you see why you must make sure you hire a good lawyer, or you could find yourself in trouble without a good way out of it. Here are the top reasons that you definitely want a lawyer on your side.

One: Your legal rights - A good lawyer will understand your legal rights in regard to the particular charge against you. This means that they can prevent you from incriminating yourself or making other mistakes that you could easily make.

Two: Knowledge that will allow them to defend you the best - A lawyer that is experienced will understand the best way to defend you in court for your particular charge. They know how to converse with the judges, prosecution and even with the juries. Plus, they have a better understanding of the law that you do.

Three: Laws in your particular state - The laws will vary for each state and the lawyer understands this and will know the laws in your state. This can go a long way towards offering you the best representation possible.

The lawyers know the laws in your state since they know that these can change at any time and they will keep informed on this so they understand them.

Four: Reduced charges - The lawyer, depending on how serious the DUI charge is, may be able to get you a reduced charged. If it is a first time offense, then this may be possible, but if you injured or killed someone, then you can be sure that you will be facing jail time because even the best lawyer will not be able to get you off of a charge like that.

Just be sure that you are honest with your lawyer about everything up front so they can represent you to the best of their ability. Having surprises during their representation is never going to be good for you.

Now that you know these reasons, you can see why it is wise to hire a DUI lawyer; all that remains is to get started on your search for the best one to represent you. Just don't rush your decision because you want to be sure you are choosing one that can help you the most, but don't take too long because the DUI charge will not just disappear for you.

Differences Between Marijuana Possession Laws in Arizona and California

Recently, California has passed yet another law to further legalize marijuana possession. A possessor must have a marijuana medical card, and buy from a legally authorized dispensary. Possession without a medical card has been reduced to a civil offense, the same as a traffic ticket. While this has made many California residents happy, just across the border the laws in Arizona are still quite strict. Herein, I will describe what these laws mean to those who are visiting or moving from California to Arizona.

If you are from Arizona, you know that marijuana is effectively legalized in certain parts of the state. Medical marijuana cards can be had for a quick sixty dollar visit to a local doctor, and then a stop in to a dispensary, such as one in Oakland. At this point, the user can smoke marijuana free and clear, with no concern for criminal penalties. Without the card, the person could be ticketed for a civil offense, the same as speeding or a trespassing claim. This is deal for some citizens of California, but they should be aware of what this can means should they cross the border.

In Arizona, a quick trip down the I-8, the laws regarding marijuana possession are severe. Simply possessing a small amount for personal use can result in six months to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Should a person it packaged in a manner the state decides is designed for distribution, the penalties will skyrocket. Delivery or sales of marijuana results in an instant penalty of two and a half years in jail. So think twice before you bring that joint to your friend's house!

Overall, residents of California should always remember when they leave the state that they could be subject to vastly different laws across the border. We think of the United States of America as one large conglomerate, however in reality we are a union of states each with its' own legislative body. This results in something of a patchwork of laws which can be confusing and potentially damaging to visitors.

If you have been arrested for possession of marijuana, contact an Arizona criminal defense lawyer today. An Arizona criminal defense attorney will defend you in court, and can negotiate with the prosecution to lower the charge or at least the sentencing which is levied against you. If you are planning a trip to Arizona from California, ensure that you look up the laws for any goods which could be considered illegal where you are visiting.

Criminal Defense Attorney Job Description

The importance of the services provided by criminal defense attorneys is very well known to people who have been dragged into the court of law and accused for committing crimes. If you are thinking about the criminal defense attorney job description; it may vary according to factors such as the client, case and the circumstances.

Criminal Defense Attorneys or Lawyers

Criminal defense attorneys are professionals from the law field, whose primary objective is to reduce the negative consequences after the arrest and accusation of their clients. Criminal lawyers work in facilities such as state or local courts of law, private offices and even non-profit organizations. They receive a set amount for getting the convicts out of the charges. Let us now know more about criminal defense attorney job description.

Criminal Defense Attorney Job Description

A criminal defense attorney acts like brain, ears and mouth of the accused or the client in carrying out the legal proceedings in the court of justice. He speaks on behalf of the accused, and represents the person who is charged for doing a crime. He considers the legal rights of the accused and tries his best to decrease the charges that have been put on him. Before the commencement of the court proceedings, the client gets in touch with a criminal defense attorney and explains him about the case.

The criminal defense attorney then collects all the necessary data and studies the case thoroughly for taking the case forward. For collection of data; he may even obtain information from police officers, detectives, witnesses and other individuals related to the crime and case. A criminal defense attorney has to be with the accuser and should provide him legal advice in answering the interrogations made by the police department, the prosecutor officer, or any other federal authority.

He investigates and researches on all the negative and positive possibilities in the case of the accuser. He also has to conduct detailed interviews with the witnesses of the crime. He has to carry out the legal formalities on behalf of the client. A criminal defense lawyer also needs to guide the accused during his probation or parole periods. In the court of law, he is supposed to clearly summarize the complete case to the jury.

Criminal Defense Attorney Salary

The criminal defense attorney salary counts mainly on which facility and state the person is employed in. The average per annum pay of a criminal defense attorney working in Chicago, Illinois is somewhere around $103,000. In Houston, Texas; a criminal lawyer would get a pay about $99,000 per annum, whereas in Atlanta, Georgia; one would receive approximately $95,000. The pay also depends much on the level of experience, public reputation and the type of the client.

The pay would be higher if the attorney is well-known to resolve most of the court cases undertaken. If a criminal defense attorney is hired by a private firm, he may receive a yearly pay of about $79,000. If the attorney is self-employed, he may get approximately $95,000 per annum on an average. If these professionals work as public defenders or district attorneys, they may get a yearly remuneration of about $60,000 and $70,000 respectively.

I hope after reading the above article, you might have got an insight of criminal defense attorney job description and the salary. There are many more responsibilities that a criminal defense attorney has to carry out, which may depend majorly on the type of case and the client.

Choosing an Arizona DUI Attorney

Getting arrested for DUI in the state of Arizona can have very serious repercussions, which include imprisonment and license suspension. Given this, people who find themselves facing a DUI case in Arizona would do well to get the legal advice that they need in facing the case. This would involve getting a skilled lawyer who can aggressively represent them in the DUI case that they face. The good news is that there are a number of sources where people facing DUI charges can go to find a lawyer. The Internet, which hosts a large number of web sites of lawyers and law firms in Arizona, is an excellent source. However, despite the wide choices that people can choose from, getting the right lawyer would still involve asking very important questions to the lawyers that they are considering.

Questions to ask

Asking the lawyers you are considering to represent you in your DUI case the right questions can help you decide on a lawyer who will aggressively represent you in the case. Some of the most important questions you should ask are about his or her experience in practicing law, in handling DUI cases, and his or her familiarity with laws and the judges. Knowing these can help you gauge whether the lawyer has gained the necessary experience he or she needs to go about the case. In addition to this, you should also consider a number of things, including the lawyer's reputation not only among clients but among other lawyers as well. In addition to this you should also try to get a lawyer that carries malpractice insurance just in case of any problems that can occur during the trial. Lastly and more importantly, you should also ask about the lawyer's fees.

Given the serious repercussions that a conviction in a DUI case in Arizona brings, people who face these charges should make sure that they get the adequate legal representation that they need in facing the charges. Fortunately, there are a number of steps that people can take to make sure that they get a good lawyer, including asking the right questions when they interview lawyers. Being able to ask very important questions can help people assess which lawyer has the skill and the competencies that would enable him or her to aggressively represent them in court.

Arizona DUI Arrests

Driving Under the Influence" or drunk driving is a punishable offence. The driver is arrested by police officers and taken into custody. It is not necessary to handcuff or restrict the physical movements of the suspect. An arrest can be executed by merely informing the suspect of the process.

The police officer makes the decision to arrest the suspect based on certain facts and evidence indicating the individual's involvement in the crime. The DUI arrests in Arizona can be affected based on two identified causes: an impaired driving ability as a result of intoxication due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs, or a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or more. Charges are serious if the blood alcohol level is detected to be more than 0.15%. If the driving ability is found to be impaired due to the influence of a drug, it results in conviction irrespective of the fact that it is a legally recommended medication.

In Arizona, DUI arrests are considered a misdemeanor if a person is accused two or more times in the span of five years prior to the current offence. However, a far more serious note is taken if the offence is during the suspension or cancellation of the driving rights or if a child below the age of fifteen is in the car. Punishments depend on the seriousness of charges and the defendant's criminal record. The amount payable as a fine depends on the number of crimes recorded against the individual and the percentage of alcohol detected in the person. In the first instance of DUI (below or above 0.15% BAL), a fine of $250.00 is imposed and subsequently (when BAL is above 0.15%), it is increased to $500.00. A third-time offense within five years fetches $1,000 to $10,000 as fine.

There are ways to decrease the charges; however the best way to avoid them is to simply not mix drinks with driving.