Can Your Car or Truck Be Impounded For DUI in Arizona?
A drunk driving arrest exposes a driver to a variety of penalties — the criminal jail term and fines that follow a conviction on the main DUI or DWI charge; and the civil sanctions, such as vehicle impound by the police, and subsequent driver's license suspension or ignition interlock requirements issued by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
If you need advice about your vehicle impoundment following an Arizona DUI or DWI arrest, contact The Gillespie Law Firm in Phoenix for a free consultation about the legal and practical considerations.
First of all, getting your car impounded is a significant risk of certain types of DUI arrest such as — extreme DUI based on evidence of a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 percent or higher; super extreme DUI based on a BAC reading of .20 or higher; and felony DUI. Arrest for any of these offenses can result in the loss of the vehicle involved in the offense for 30 days.
If you're convicted of a felony DUI charge, which under certain circumstances can be a first or second drunk driving offense, the sanction goes beyond impoundment. Your vehicle is subject to forfeiture, which means that you'll no longer own it.
In situations where a married couple holds joint title to the car or truck impounded following a DUI arrest, our DUI attorneys can typically arrange for early release of the impounded vehicle. In the event that a civil impoundment hearing is required, our lawyers develop and present your case at civil hearings with the same degree of thoroughness and care that we devote to the criminal side of your case.
Call 888-613-5322 for Advice About Vehicle Impoundment
For additional information about the best ways to attempt to obtain the release of an impounded vehicle or avoid vehicle forfeiture on serious DUI charges in Phoenix and Maricopa County, contact The Gillespie Law Firm for a free consultation.
