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    Felony DUI

    Arizona DUI and the other kind of bars

    Arizona DUI and the other kind of barsStephen King set his “Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” stories in prison environments. Elvis swiveled his hips in striped pants and sang in “Jailhouse Rock.” “Orange Is The New Black” is one of the hottest TV shows around. “OZ” paved the way for other iconic HBO series.  What is it about jails and prisons that inspires so much drama?

    I believe that jails, penitentiaries and prisons fascinate people who are “watching” from the outside. Why? Horror, compassion, curiosity, and relief that it’s somebody else, just to name a few. But whatever feelings this subject elicits, I am not here to make generalizations, point fingers, or render any kind of judgment, personal or legal. My intent is to inform, educate and maybe even promote discussion about the subject of DUI.

    DUI and jail. DUI and prison. They go together like law and order. My extensive experience as a DUI attorney necessarily includes knowledge of Arizona DUI sentences. Even a first conviction can require jail time. Aggravated DUI convictions carry prison terms. Repeat offenders receive harsher penalties. It only gets worse from there, so let’s hope you never find out firsthand.

    And while you may enjoy reading about prisons, or have a favorite jail-centered TV show or movie, let’s agree on one point: it isn’t glamorous. It isn’t romantic. It isn’t fun. And the rest of the adjectives I would use in describing the experience of incarceration are all negative ones.

    Is being locked up once enough to put off an offender from committing another DUI? Again, I would say, let’s hope so. Unfortunately, the fact that the penalties get tougher for repeat offenders would seem to indicate that not everyone learns from experience.

    If you or someone you know is dealing with a DUI-related issue, please do not hesitate to give us a call at Zachary Law Group. Speak to an experienced attorney, FREE 30-minute case evaluation. We are here to help you, whether it’s to answer questions, establish your legal rights, and represent you in court. We have the knowledge and the experience to take on your legal problem and “Zach-It”! Do the smart thing and contact us soon, at 1-855-Zach-law.

    Hit-and-run DUI can run you into a felony

    Criminal2 6.45.51 PMHere is a question for my readers:  What’s worse than driving drunk or drugged and getting into an accident?  Answer:  Driving drunk or drugged, getting into an accident, and fleeing the scene of the accident.  You can call it hit-and-run, failure to stop, or leaving the scene. It all comes down to this:  hit-and-run DUI can run you into a felony.

    As readers of this blog may already know, a DUI conviction can be a simple misdemeanor.  However, repeat offenses and other contributing factors can add up to a DUI felony charge in Arizona. Leaving the scene of an accident that involves any injury or death is always a felony.  Leaving the scene of an accident when only vehicle damage occurs is usually a misdemeanor.

    You may think you would be lucky if all you had to pay for was damage to a vehicle, or a couple of vehicles.  Although “lucky” is not a term anyone would normally associate with a DUI charge, vehicle damage is certainly different from harming a person with your actions behind the wheel. Because the other penalties, in cases of death and injury plus failure to stop, include incarceration from four to ten years added on consecutively to other time being served for other charges, driver’s license revocation from five to ten years, fines and other restitution, and the use of an IID (ignition interlock device).

    It is common sense–not legal advice–that if you are involved in any kind of motor accident, to stop immediately and call the police.  If you are involved in a DUI situation, your actions at the scene may have major consequences.  If you would like to know more about how DUI laws may affect you, or you are facing any DUI-related situation, contact Zachary Law Group.  We offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation to help identify any legal issues that concern you.  Then we can work together to “Zach-It” – that is, establish and protect your legal rights, and pursue the best possible solution.

    Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you believe you need legal advice. Contact us at 1-855-Zach-law.

    Drug DUI in Arizona

    DrugLawDrug DUI in Arizona can be misdemeanors or felonies, just like those involving drinking.

    Most people, when they hear the term DUI, associate the term “under the influence” with drinking too much alcohol.  But the fact is, in Arizona and elsewhere, many DUI offenses relate not to alcohol impairment, but to drugs.  The effect of many chemical substances on a driver’s judgment, reflexes, and other aspects of operating a vehicle can be as devastating as alcohol’s are, and the penalties are just as severe.

    The test that law enforcement personnel may order to determine drug impairment is a blood test, since it is fair to assume that a breath test may not reveal drug consumption as readily as it does alcohol levels.  In either scenario, if the driver’s blood does test positive for any (illegal) drug, a DUI charge can result.  What’s more, in certain situations even legal prescription medications that cause impaired driving can lead to a DUI charge.  And, if you’re wondering if that reference to prescriptions includes legal medical marijuana, the answer is absolutely yes.  Drug DUIs do include marijuana as a potentially “actionable” substance.

    Of course, nothing in this blog should be taken as legal advice.  If you have a DUI-related problem, your first thought should be to acquire experienced legal advice from an attorney well-versed in DUI matters.  If you have questions about what Arizona law has to say about drug DUI, or you find yourself in a situation that calls for legal assistance, you may want to bring your issues to an experienced attorney at Zachary Law Group.  We offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation to get started on finding solutions for you.  We can go to work on your behalf, to assert and protect your legal rights.  That’s how we work; we “Zach-It!”  Contact us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

    When a DUI is a felony in Arizona

    DUIBreathFor many activities, jobs, and hobbies in our lives, the rule of “practice makes perfect” applies:  the more you do something, the better you may get.

    When the subject is DUI charges and DUI convictions, though, that is not the case.  In fact, the more DUI charges or convictions a person has, the worse the consequences can be.

    When is a DUI a felony in Arizona?  In Arizona, you can be charged with Aggravated DUI, also known as Felony DUI, depending on the degree of impairment while driving as well as contributing factors, including:

    • A suspended, cancelled, revoked, refused, or restricted license; or
    • Two DUI convictions within seven years of the DUI currently charged; or
    • You were ordered to have an Ignition Interlock Device in your vehicle

    It is also a Felony DUI if you meet the above criteria but with the presence of a child under 15 in the vehicle.

    A felony conviction of any kind is extremely serious, and can be detrimental to you in many ways.  If you are convicted of an Aggravated DUI that conviction can follow you for the rest of your life.  It can even be used against you to extend your sentence, should you ever be charged for any other felony offense.

    Any DUI charge is something that should be treated seriously.  If you, a loved one, or a friend is in a situation like this, maybe you should consider getting help from an experienced DUI attorney at Zachary Law Group.  Not every DUI is a felony.  But why take the chance of letting something that seems minor turn into something with major, lifelong consequences?

    At Zachary Law Group, we offer a FREE 30-minute case evaluation.  We can advise and represent you at every step to find a solution to your DUI-related issues.   With our teamwork approach, we’ll help you tackle your legal problem and “Zach-It!”  So if you have a problem, don’t wait for it to turn into a potential lifelong disaster.  Put the power of the law on your side, to assert and protect your rights.  Call us today at 1-855-Zach-law.

     

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