1839 S. Alma School Road
Suite 264
Mesa, Arizona 85210
(480) 374-8747
(602) 357-8606 (espanol)
177 N. Church Ave
Suite 312
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 468-6668
(602) 357-8606(espanol)

Casa Grande DUI Laws

You were just driving home from your friend’s house after the big game, but much to your surprise you ran into a DUI checkpoint. You’d had a beer or two over the course of the afternoon, but you knew you were fine, so you weren’t worried. After all, Casa Grande DUIs are things that happen to criminals and alcoholics, and you’re neither – or at least you weren’t until the officer told you he was going to have to charge you.

So naturally you start to panic, wondering what’s going to happen to you. Will you lose your driver’s license? Your car? Do you have to go to court? How much work are you going to have to miss to fix this mess? How are you going to get to work if you can’t drive? What is this going to cost you and your family? Should you try to fight it or just accept the charges so that you can put the whole process behind you and move on with your life?

Reactions like this are completely natural, and they are precisely why no one should make any decision on what to do about a Casa Grande drunk driving charge without consulting with an attorney experienced with drunk driving charges. Casa Grande lawyers not only know the law, they understand the area and who handles each and every aspect of your case. Talk with a DUI attorney and they can take you step-by-step through the entire process so that you understand what is going to happen and can be prepared.

How DUI Law Works in Casa Grande

Those charged with a Casa Grande DUI should understand that they are really up against two charges: one for having a BAC of .08 or higher, and one for impaired driving. Smart DUI attorneys can use this to their advantage by looking at the facts and deciding whether it’s in your best interest to focus on one or both of these charges in order to reduce the penalties you face or even get them dropped altogether.

You should also know that if a Casa Grande police officer pulls you over and asks you to take a breath test, it’s notwise to refuse. Implied consent law in the state means that doing so will cause you to automatically receive a license suspension of up to a year – even if you end up beating the DUI charge in the long run! It’s not worth it to avoid the breath test, so just take it and try not to put too much stock into the reading. Good DUI attorneys know that these tests are unreliable and have convinced many judges to throw the results out of court.

However, if a cop tries to get you to take a field sobriety test – the one where you’re asked to walk in a straight line and touch your nose – just say no. The law doesn’t require you to do it, and it’s not a fair test. Why? Because the results are based on the subjective opinion of the officer testing you! The only thing you’re doing in taking the test is giving him or her more ammunition to use against you in court. Don’t do it.

Penalties You Will Face for a Casa Grande DUI

Although penalties vary for Casa Grande DUIs based on the specifics of the crime and whether or not you have prior convictions, there is a standard set of punishments set down by law for a basic DUI where the person in question has a BAC of .08 or above.

  • You’ll pay. More than $500 all told, with $250 going to the Arizona DUI Abatement fund, $250 in fines, and extra money in surcharges.
  • You’ll lose your driver’s license. First time DUI convictions mean a driver’s license suspension of at least 90 days.
  • You’ll be on probation. Most people get a year, but it can go as high as five years.
  • You’ll go to jail. Sentences start at 10 days and can last as long as six months, although many judges are willing to lower your jail time to a single day if you take a drug and alcohol evaluation and attend counseling.

Punishments are a bit more stiff if you get an extreme DUI, which means your BAC was over .15, or more than double the legal limit. Along with the above penalties, you’ll have to have an Ignition Interlock Device installed on your car that won’t let you drive unless you blow into it and haven’t been drinking. And the jail time goes up, starting at 30 days (though, again, counseling can reduce it – this time to 10 days). It’s far worse if you get into an accident while intoxicated. If any property was damaged or – worse – someone was hurt or killed – those charges are automatic felonies and the penalties go way up.

No matter what your circumstances are, it’s worth talking to a qualified Casa Grande DUI attorney to learn your options. If you don’t fight, you’ll always lose.