Penalties for DUI in Arizona and the Benefits of Seeking Treatment
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How long would you go to jail for drunk driving in Arizona? This is a common question that comes when someone has a history of substance abuse and could be facing a DUI conviction in the Grand Canyon State. The consequences of getting behind the wheel intoxicated can be quite serious, so you should never do it.
A first-offense DUI usually only requires about ten days of jail time. Subsequent offenses can net you 90 days in jail while aggravating factors add to your sentence. You could face up to two years in prison in addition to fines, community service, and a license suspension.
If you’re charged with drunk driving, you will also be required to submit to drug and alcohol screening and potentially treatment. Changes Healing Center can help you take the first steps toward getting your license back when jail time ends.
Keep reading to learn more about the penalties for drunk driving in the Grand Canyon State and when to get help.
Penalties for Drunk Driving Charges
Drunk driving laws should be taken seriously. You should absolutely never get behind the wheel of a car when you are intoxicated or under the influence. No matter how sober you think you are, DUI laws have little grace for anyone with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
What will happen if you get caught drunk driving?
First Offense DUI: Time to Take It Seriously
Many people are surprised by just how serious a first conviction can be. You’ll be unhappy to learn that a first offense still results in jail time–usually at least ten consecutive days. Fines are also imposed with a minimum of $1,250. Judges often order alcohol screenings, education, and possibly even court-ordered treatment.
As with subsequent convictions, you’ll have to install an ignition interlock device to ensure that you can’t start the car while under the influence.
Subsequent Offense: More Jail Time and Steeper Penalties
Each time you are caught behind the wheel of a car without being sober, the penalties escalate. Beyond your first offense DUI, you’ll have more jail time (at least 90 days) and a higher fine (at least $3,000). If you reach this level, you will also face license suspension for one full calendar year.
Add in an ignition interlock device, community service hours, and mandatory screenings and treatment for substance use disorder, and you have plenty to keep you busy.
Aggravating Factors that Worsen a DUI Conviction
Impaired driving is a serious offense, but there’s a way for law enforcement to escalate the situation if your blood alcohol content reaches 0.15 or more. This is considered an extreme DUI offense and would result in a much longer prison sentence of 30 days (for a first conviction) to 120 days (for subsequent convictions).
Fines can reach up to $3,250, and ignition interlock devices are standard. All drunk drivers are required to undergo screening and mandatory treatment if needed.
You may also see a much higher penalty for aggravated DUI which is when:
- You commit a DUI with a license suspension.
- You hit your third DUI in 84 months.
- You drive under the influence with a child passenger (under the age of 15).
- You refuse a blood alcohol content test while using an ignition interlock device.
If this happens, your prison time could reach up to two years, along with the requisite fines and hours of community service.
License Suspension for Refusal to Cooperate
You always have the option not to submit to a blood alcohol content test, but it can mean an immediate revocation of your license right on the spot. If you refuse the test and don’t complete the required treatment (such as screenings for substance use disorder), then you face the possibility of losing your license for up to one year.
A second offense and refusal will take away your license for up to two years and can seriously ruin your driving record. This second refusal should occur within 84 months of the prior offenses for this penalty.
Drug and alcohol screening is mandatory before a license can be reinstated.
Keep in mind that aggravated DUI is a separate issue when it comes to license suspension. You could face a three-year suspension period even if you comply with the treatment plan. Because this is a more serious charge, it’s worth fighting it with a criminal defense attorney if you can.
Why Seek Rehab Following a DUI Conviction?
If you have no prior criminal history, a judge may be willing to give you a lesser sentence to include some rehab help. Why should you consider taking the court up on their offer for mandatory treatment besides the obvious legal ramifications?
Safe Space to Detox
Rehab can help you detox from whatever drugs and alcohol may be in your system. Changes Healing Center can prescribe medications to make you more comfortable during detox and help you transition to residential care when the worst is over.
Here, you’ll learn coping and life skills and new ways to do life.
Help for Mental Health Issues and Substance Use
Enrolling in treatment is important because it means you can get the help you need for substance use, but we can also peel back the layers of any underlying mental health conditions. Whether it’s trauma or a mood disorder that compels you to drink or use substances, we can get to the heart of it.
Our clinical staff is trained in various treatment modalities to give you the help necessary to live life sober on your own terms.
Affordable with Insurance Plans
We accept almost all forms of private insurance and AHCCCS to offset the cost, especially if you have other legal penalties to pay for drunk driving.
Get Help from Changes Healing Center and Get Licensed Again
The minimum penalties for drunk driving charges can be steep because this is a serious offense. You may be able to minimize your sentence by voluntarily enrolling in a treatment program. Changes Healing Center is here to help you find the path toward recovery once and for all.
Our enrollment team is standing by to answer your questions and verify your insurance benefits now!
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