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    What happens if you get pulled over for DUI in Arizona?

    Drunk DrivingIf you are stopped by the authorities for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Arizona, there is a specific series of questions and events that usually follows the stop.

    • You will be asked to provide your driver’s license and registration
    • You may be asked it you had anything to drink that night. Simply say I respectfully would rather not answer that question without the advice of my attorney.
    • You may be asked to step outside the vehicle and do some simple physical coordination activities – field tests – to see if you appear intoxicated.  You have the right to refuse to take these tests. If you do agree to take this test, let the officer know that you would like to record the test on your phone.
    • You may be asked to permit the officer to search your vehicle.  You have the right to refuse this search as well.  You may be asked other questions, and you have the right to refuse to answer and to request an attorney.
    • You may be asked if you want to take a breath, blood or urine test, and you might be taken to a police station or testing facility for the administration of that test.  You should agree to take the test(s).  Your driver’s license will be suspended for at least a year if you refuse. (The police could get a judge to sign a search warrant requiring you to give your blood). Taking the test could be a much wiser decision than saying no. Depending on the result, you may or may not be charged with a DUI.
    • After the test has been administered, you may be asked whether you want your test sample(s) to be preserved.  Always say yes.  The results can be used as evidence to help your case later.
    • When you are released, it’s a good idea to arrange to have another test done immediately at a hospital or by your own doctor.

    At every stage of the process, remember to be polite and cooperative. You can still refuse to do certain things or answer questions and still remain respectful.

    Finally, and perhaps most importantly, remember that you may request an attorney at any point in the process (if you cannot afford one, the court in most DUI situations will appoint an attorney to represent you at no or little cost to you.) An experienced DUI attorney will have the knowledge and familiarity with every step of the legal process, which can make all the difference between a good outcome and a bad break.

    Consider what you have just read as a dose of helpful, preventive information. It is not legal advice. If you have questions about how DUI laws may affect you, or you are facing any DUI-related legal problems, contact Zachary Law Group for a FREE 30-minute case evaluation.  Once you’ve made the call, you can be confident that we will do everything possible to assert and protect your legal rights and  “Zach-It!”   Call us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

    DUI penalties in Arizona

    California DUI Beer at StadiumThe offense of driving under the influence (DUI) is punishable under Arizona law by several different kinds of penalties.  Those penalties can fall within different categories of criminal offenses from misdemeanors to felonies.

    If the charge is a first offense, for example, and falls within a certain blood alcohol content range, it will likely be charged as a misdemeanor. There may be jail time. Fines may be associated with the conviction.  Counseling can also be required.

    From there, the consequences of more serious DUI offenses also get more serious.  Fines get higher.  You can lose your driver’s license for a year or even longer.  There can be more jail time.  An ignition interlock device may be required for your vehicle.  And depending on the offense, there may be a felony conviction as well.

    If you are curious, you can read the complete list of offenses and penalties online. But let’s face it, reading a list on a screen may not necessarily feel “real.”  You may think, oh, that will never happen to me, so what do I want to know, or even need to know about DUI penalties in Arizona? But the fact is, at some time or another you might find yourself facing a DUI charge.  You may feel you have no options, nowhere to look for help, and no idea of how your situation will turn out.

    If you are charged with a DUI in Arizona, talk with an experienced DUI defense attorney at Zachary Law Group.  We offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation.  We will listen, answer questions, and work with you to find out all we can about your situation.  “Experience our approach to finding workable solutions to your legal issues.  Instead of waiting or worrying, simply give us a call today.  The sooner you do, the sooner we can “Zach-It!” by putting the power of the law on your side.  Call us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

     

    The Best Advice of All? Zach-it!

    At one time or another, almost everyone encounters some type of a legal issue or problem.  It’s part of life.  And whether you are facing divorce, family issues, debt, or run-ins with the law, chances are there’s someone in your life who will likely give you advice about fixing it. Unfortunately, no matter how good their intention, even friends and family who mean well can sometimes do just the opposite with their advice.

     

    When you are facing a legal problem, it can seem overwhelming.  You might ask yourself all sorts of questions, like what should I do?  Who should I listen to?  What’s the worst that could happen?  And most of all, how do I make this problem go away?

     

    I know one answer to each one of those questions.  Seek out the advice of an experienced attorney.  Talk to someone who knows the law and the court system.  Someone who will listen to you, answer your questions, guide you through the process, and defend your legal rights.  Talk to us, as Zachary Law Group.

     

    At Zachary Law Group, we’ve even given a name to our approach to solving to your legal problem:  we “Zach-It!”  We offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation, so you can come in and discuss your legal matter with us without worrying about the cost.

     

    We’re here to work together with you. Don’t put it off.  If you have a problem, the fact is, in criminal matter, family court, or bankruptcy, the quicker you act, the faster your rights can be established.

     

    Despite the pressure you may feel from friends or family, you can start taking control of the situation.  Put the power of the law on your side. Call us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

    Property exemptions in chapter 7 bankruptcy

    In a Chapter 7 (personal) bankruptcy, a person’s debts are examined in Bankruptcy Court to see which are eligible to be discharged or eliminated.  In addition, person filing for bankruptcy will be asked to disclose all of their assets to determine what, and how much, the debtor may keep and what must be used toward the payment of debt.

    Federal bankruptcy law and Arizona law both allow for certain exemptions as far as a debtor’s assets and possessions are concerned.  These laws are subject to change as the courts continue to interpret them.  Here is a partial list of some of the recently revised exemptions in the state of Arizona:

    Household Assets

    ▪       Some household furniture and furnishings

    ▪       Most household goods including some consumer electronic devices

     

    Business Assets

    ▪       Some tools, equipment, instruments and books

    ▪       Intangible business assets including some things such as phone numbers and client/customer contact information

    ▪       Most marketing tools such as websites, domain names or any other intangible work products

     

    If you are considering the possibility of filing for bankruptcy, it’s wise to discuss it with an experienced bankruptcy attorney first. At Zachary Law Group, we offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation. Our approach to finding solutions to your legal problems is working together to “Zach-It!”  The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner we can start helping.

    Put the power of the law on your side, to assert and protect your rights.  Call us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

    The Reality Without The Drama: Criminal Sentencing Guidelines

    Nearly everyone has watched courtroom shows on TV.  Whether it’s a celebrity judge holding court or an award-winning primetime series, there’s plenty of entertainment and sometimes shocking drama as the verdict – and the sentence – is delivered.

     

    But in real life, the criminal justice system doesn’t work that way.  Sometimes not even the judge has the last word. In Arizona, some sentencing guidelines for criminal penalties are set down as precisely as the IRS sets down the tax laws.  Every category of offense, from drug offenses to domestic violence, and parole violations to felonies, is included in the guidelines.

     

    If you are convicted of a crime in Arizona, the Criminal Code Sentencing Chart can give you an idea of the penalty and/or sentence you may be facing.  You may think you know what to do, or what to say in court.  But think:  do you really want to risk it?  This is a situation in which an experienced  criminal defense attorney can help.

     

    At Zachary Law Group, our approach to finding solutions to your legal problems is working together to “Zach-It!”  We offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation, so it’s probably in your best interest to contact us right away.  The sooner you do, the sooner we can begin establishing and defending your legal rights.

     

    Put the power of the law on your side. Call us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

    A Post-Divorce "Arrangement" Is No Substitute For a Legal Modification

    Let’s say that for the past 10 years since your Arizona divorce, you and your former spouse have smoothly cooperated in the support, care and decision-making for your child.

    As primary custodian, that ex-spouse has been accepting checks you have been sending since losing a job or taking a pay cut, being relocated or remarried, or becoming seriously ill and dealing with health care expenses. It occurred to neither of you to execute a formal, legal, drafted and signed modification of support, custody and visitation — parental rights you simply assumed, and carried out to the best of your ability.

    With no documentation to prove what you have accomplished outside the law, and with your comfort level so high that you never saved a check stub or other records that reflected your “arrangement”  — you are now financially exposed and vulnerable to the possibility that your ex-wife or ex-husband could very well change their mind, take you to court, and accuse you of having been a deadbeat dad or mom all these years.

    And that suddenly vindictive former spouse would have a very good chance of winning.

    A family law attorney with an agenda could convince your ex that seeking more money in a family court is a good idea, whether or not you can afford it. Nothing has been signed between you as co-parents since the financial “hit” that affected your support payments. That same lawyer may even try to disguise legal fees as additional arrears on behalf of his or her equally underemployed client, in which case you would essentially be paying for your own mistreatment — your completely unwarranted punishment for what used to be a “go along to get along” attitude.

    The lesson? When lifestyles change, suddenly or gradually, dramatically and substantially, pursue a formal legal modification of your divorce settlement obligations. Do it then and there. Discuss it, draft it, sign it. You will be doing yourself a huge favor by taking guesswork out of a post-divorce relationship that can go south at any moment.

    If this harrowing situation describes yours, or you fear that it might someday, and you want to protect your access to your child after a divorce, you should contact experienced divorce and family law attorney Steven Zachary of the Zachary Law Group in Gilbert. Our trusted law firm’s founder can tell you more about the importance of protecting yourself legally from the whims of an ex-spouse who has had too much time to think about, and feel manipulated by, informal revisions of your responsibilities.

    This is the  kind of problem you can try to wish away, sweep under the rug, turn a blind eyfamily-law2e and deaf ear to until it can’t be ignored anymore … or you can “Zach it.” Every problem has a solution, and solutions are what Steven Zachary’s leadership is all about. Call today for an initial consultation. 480-389-3533.

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    Divorce Lawyers and Criminal Attorneys in Gilbert, AZ