• 28
  • January
    2011

Arizona law enforcement arrested an enormous amount of people for DUI between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day: 3,534.

The number was so high because police departments in Phoenix and across all of Arizona participated in a state-wide crackdown. In fact, the police stopped over 41,000 drivers during this stretch.

Does a DUI Arrest Mean the Accused Person was Driving Drunk?

No. There were 3,534 DUI arrests during the extended holiday season, but the resulting number of DUI convictions will be significantly lower. The DUI conviction rate varies greatly from county to county. Some areas have DUI conviction rates above 90 percent, while other places convict 75 percent or less of the accused offenders.

The ability to successfully defend a DUI offense charge probably has less to do with the county's DUI conviction rate and depends more upon the quality and extent of evidence that the accused is facing, and of course his corresponding defense strategy.

Defending DUI Charges

Skilled DUI defense lawyers have been attacking the results of breathalyzer tests for quite some time, as scientists have consistently shown the inaccuracy of these breath-test machines. Even the modern, top-quality models are unreliable if they aren't properly calibrated. Their accuracy can also be affected by temperature, breath-rate or breath-depth, GERD (acid reflux) and the proper administration of the test by law enforcement.

Even when a blood test or sobriety test is used in the prosecution's case, there may be weaknesses that a defense lawyer can attack. Each situation is unique and requires careful examination by a DUI defense attorney. In appropriate circumstances, a skilled lawyer may also work with prosecutors to reach a plea bargain that is acceptable to the defendant.

If I'm Convicted, What Punishment do I Face?

A DUI arrest may hurt somebody's reputation in the community and cause stress on the family. But a DUI conviction raises the stakes, as it results in punishment by the legal system. Like most states, Arizona law provides for some pretty significant punishment for DUI offenders. However, the punishment depends on the charges involved.

First time DUI offenders should always take their charges seriously and contact an attorney, but they aren't facing the heightened consequences of someone who has been accused of a repeat DUI, extreme DUI or aggravated DUI.

When accused of DUI, the most important thing is to appreciate the severity of the charges and contact an experienced attorney to help defend against them.

Source: Arizona Range News