by Zayed Al-Sayyed

Arizona DUI AttorneyMarch 25, 20230 comments

Arizona First Offense DUI

Getting charged with an Arizona first-offense DUI is overwhelming, confusing, and downright frightening. And if it’s your first time navigating the DUI process, you probably have a ton of questions (or concerns!) about what the future holds.

If this sounds familiar, the skilled criminal defense lawyers at The Law Office of Zayed Al-Sayyed are here to help. With ample experience handling Arizona DUI cases, we have what it takes to defend even the toughest of charges.

Without further ado, our team is diving into the Arizona first-offense DUI charge in today’s blog post. Keep reading for more info regarding DUI laws, penalties, and defenses.

DUI Penalties in Arizona

Simply put, it’s illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Arizona. Specifically, anyone caught driving with a blood-alcohol content exceeding .08% will be arrested for a DUI. Additionally, driving with any amount of illegal drug in your system warrants a DUI.

Arizona DUIs come in several different forms. Traditional DUIs are the least serious, followed by Extreme DUIs, and Aggravated DUIs (which are the most serious). Generally, the latter two require prior conviction of a DUI, making these charges highly unlikely for an Arizona first-offense DUI.

Consequences of an Arizona First-Offense DUI

Have you or a loved one been convicted of an Arizona first-offense DUI? This is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor that is punishable by:

1. Community service;
2. A fine of at least $1,250; 
3. At least 10 consecutive days in jail; 
4. Mandatory alcohol screening, education, or treatment; and
5. Mandatory installation of a certified ignition interlock device on any vehicle you operate (for one year). 

Possible Defenses

As Arizona criminal defense attorneys, ZLawyer has seen our fair share of DUI cases. Below are some possible defenses for your Arizona first-offense DUI:

Inadmissible Evidence

Believe it or not, obtaining a blood or breath sample does not automatically make you guilty of a DUI. In order to use that evidence against you, the officers must have legally obtained it. For example, if the officer pulled you over and administered a breath test for no reason, the judge may deem that test inadmissible.

You Weren’t Intoxicated or Driving Unsafely

If your DUI arrest involves marijuana, the prosecution must prove you were intoxicated at the time of the arrest. Furthermore, they must prove that your intoxication was the cause of your unsafe driving. If they fail to establish either of these, your charges could be dropped.

Chemical Testing Problems

The prosecution relies on chemical test results (like a blood or breath test) to prove you were guilty of driving under the influence. However, even labs make mistakes sometimes! When you hire an experienced DUI attorney, they will review your lab results to determine if any errors were made. If so, they have the expertise to use that info accordingly.

Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Phoenix

Have you or a loved one been charged with an Arizona first-offense DUI? Don’t worry, ZLawyer is here to help. We bring the experience, aggressiveness, and knowledge of both state and local law that’s necessary to secure the best possible outcome.

Seeking a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer that you can trust? Contact our team today.