DUI
Tough New Arizona DUI Law 'Super Extreme' Goes Into Effect
Arizona will have one of the most punitive DUI laws in the country for first time offenders. Lawmakers are trying to decrease the alcohol-related fatalities with the 'Super Extreme' DUI law. Last year Arizona ranked sixth in the nation for alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
Starting Wednesday, being arrested for DUI in Arizona will result in additional penalties and conditions. Recently lawmakers passed a tough new law that requires ignition interlock devices for first time offenders and created a new ‘super extreme’ classification of drunk driver.
The ignition interlock penalty is modeled after New Mexico law, where officials cite a reduction in alcohol related fatalities since the car disabling device was made mandatory for everyone convicted of drunk driving.
‘Super extreme’ DUI offenders are those who have a blood alcohol content of 0.20% or higher. The legal limit is 0.08%. The new penalties for drivers who reach this threshold include higher fines and a minimum of 45 days in jail. Previously, a judge could suspend part of a jail sentence if the defendant completed a court-sponsored drug or alcohol program.
The lawmaker’s intent was to provide a strong deterrent to drunk driving, though Arizona DUI defense attorneys say the strict new laws will clog the court system with those challenging their drunk driving arrests. They also cite many hardships, especially for those charged with their first DUI. The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division anticipates 17,000 motorists will be charged with a first-time drunk driving offense in the coming year. The new DUI law will require every one of them to pass a breath test each time they want to start their vehicles. The cost of installation of an interlock device is about $100 and it costs $80 per month to maintain it. Most offenders are required to have the device in their vehicles for 12 months, and the cost of the interlock is in addition to court fines that can be $1,000 or more.
Statistics show that the majority of those arrested for DUI will not be repeat offenders, leading critics to say the penalties cast a wide net while failing to offer long-term solutions for chronic, repeat drunk drivers.
The new Arizona DUI legislation was signed into law by Governor Janet Napolitano in May of 2007. Since then Illinois and Louisiana have enacted similar ignition-interlock requirements for first-time DUI offenders.
Arizona Motor Vehicle Division - http://www.dot.state.az.us/mvd/index.asp
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