Extreme DUI

Arizona Extreme DUI - BAC .15% - Vehicle Impoundment

For nearly ten years, Arizona has recognized two levels of drunk driving - DUI "per se", in which a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 percent will support a conviction, and extreme DUI, for those with a BAC of .15 or above.

An extreme DUI conviction can include a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days in jail, heavy fines, impoundment of your vehicle for 30 days, installation of an ignition interlock device with GPS monitoring on your car, and revocation of your driver's license for one year. All that's for a first offense. Any repeat extreme DUI conviction within a seven-year period carries even tougher minimum penalties.

If you need help with defense of a charge under these harsh penalties, the Phoenix extreme DUI lawyers at the Weingart Law Firm can help you. If you're facing a first offense extreme DUI charge, our experienced attorneys will concentrate on developing the following aspects of your defense:

• Challenging the police officer's probable cause for the arrest
• Examining the circumstances of the blood test or breath test for mistakes of maintenance, calibration, chain of custody, or administration
• Attacking the results of the blood alcohol test on technical grounds, such as interaction with prescription drugs or food, or forensic weaknesses in the test itself

Where a repeat offense charge of extreme DUI depends on proof of a prior conviction within the previous seven years, our lawyers will conduct a careful examination of the facts and procedures in the older case to prevent it from counting as a prior offense. The difference can prevent you from serving at least two months in jail and being subject to more than $3,000 in fines. A third offense within seven years is charged as aggravated DUI, which is a felony.

Experts in the field understand perfectly well that a BAC of .15 percent does not mean that a person is extremely drunk. What's extreme about the Arizona DUI law is the minimum punishment if you're convicted.

Our extreme DUI defense lawyers can also help you release the impoundment of your car. If someone else is on the title, it can be released to that person. We can also challenge the constitutionality of allowing the same police who impounded the vehicle to decide whether it should be released.

The Weingart Law Firm holds the AV rating* under Martindale-Hubbell's peer review rating system. Four of our attorneys have long and impressive experience with the defense and trial of DUI cases, and our lawyers recently ran a remarkable streak of 26 victories out of 30 extreme DUI trials, in which the BAC readings varied from .17 to .32 percent. Phoenix defense attorney Mark Weingart is a founding member of the National College of DUI Defense and has tried more than 500 cases in his 30-year career.

If you've been charged with first, second, or third offense extreme DUI, get the experienced and resourceful representation you need by contacting the DUI trial attorneys at the Weingart Law Firm in Tempe.

* CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings evaluate two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.