Arizona DUI Law

In Arizona DUI cases, ignorance hurts. You owe it to yourself to spend time reading about impaired driving law.

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Need to know about Arizona DUI Law?

If you or a loved one is facing a DUI in Arizona, you owe it to yourself to take the time to become highly literate in the subject prior to proceeding with your case. Much of the advertising for DUI in Phoenix, from the state and from defense lawyers, is designed to frighten and disorient. The state, with their ads such as "expect the max" advertises to convince you not to hire an attorney and to throw yourself on the mercy of the court at your earliest opportunity. Some law firms use the reverse in their advertising and try to scare you into retaining their services to avoid the harsh penalties that the state's advertising threatens. Neither is the truth, and neither considers your best interest. With all of the hype out there, you owe it to yourself to read up on the subject so that you will be equiped to make intelligent decisions in your case.

IMPORTANT: If you take the time to read through this website before making any important choices in your Arizona DUI case, you will be much better equiped to act in your own best interest.

Do you need to hire a DUI attorney for your case?

You may or may not need to hire a DUI lawyer. In the interest of full-disclosure, this website is authored and maintained by The Jaffe Law Firm, a Phoenix area firm that defends DUI cases. The purpose of this website is to help you come to terms with the reality of your situation. Our DUI clientele tends to be highly proactive and educated, and we recommend that our clients become as literate as possible on the subject. This allows us to put our focus where it should be; in investigating, negotiating, litigating and winning DUI cases. We encourage you to read through this website carefully, and then, if you think you might need representation, please feel free to contact us.

Aren't all Arizona DUI cases hopeless?

This is a pervasive Arizona DUI myth. It causes some to unwittingly plead to a greater DUI charge or penalty than need be. The fact is, all DUI cases are winnable, but the odds of winning range from near 100% to slim depending on the facts of the individual case, the method of chemical testing, the police agency, the prosecuting authority, the judge, and the defense lawyer.

If you go in with the attitude that you are going to get a DUI and get slammed with a harsh penalty, then you will probably create a self-fulfilling prophesy.

On the other hand, if you first educate yourself and speak with a DUI lawyer who will give you a straight answer, you may find that your situation is not as bleak as it now appears.

 

What about my privilege to drive? What about my vehicle?

In the Phoenix area, most people can't imagine losing their drivers license. A DUI arrest not only exposes you to license suspensions or revocations, but also to mandatory ignition interlock devices once you are able to drive again. While a license suspension is probable for most people arrested for DUI, there is much that can be done to minimize the impact on your life. For example, did you know that in most cases a suspension can be delayed for months if you act in time? Did you know that there are ways around points suspensions? Did you know that there are even exceptions to the ignition interlock requirement?

Many Phoenix area cities will now impound the vehicle after an extreme DUI arrest. There are several possible ways to get a vehicle released before the 30 day impound is up. A recent problem that has started cropping up is repossession of vehicles in impound, even when payments are current. The more you know, the better able you will be to protect your rights and your vehicle.

How do I sort through the hype and find the truth about my Phoenix area DUI?

We hope this website will provide you with a good starting point. There is a lot of useful information about Arizona DUI law in these pages. We also hope that after you have educated yourself you will call us to discuss your case. We recommend that you read our primer on how to hire a DUI defense lawyer, so that you will know that you are making the best choice when you decide whether to hire an attorney, and if so, who to hire.

As with all areas of law, there are few black and white issues in Arizona DUI law, and numerous shades of grey. Since each case may be factually and legally unique, do not rely on examples and information in this website to replace the personal counsel of an experienced Arizona DUI practitioner. Like anything, you will benefit in direct proportion to the effort you invest in helping yourself understand your rights and options. We strongly caution the reader against blindly pleading guilty. We also strongly caution against hiring a law firm based on unsubstantiated promises and attempts to impress or frighten.

Tips for dealing with Arizona DUI defense lawyers.

The law is an old and noble profession. Like any group of people, there are practitioners ranging from excellent to mediocre, and from honorable to scoundrel. Take time to review the law, gather information about the court where your case will be heard, investigate any attorney or firm you consider hiring. Never let a firm run a credit report on you prior to agreeing to hire them. Never agree to hire a firm without first meeting or speaking with the primary lawyer who will actually handle your case. Never discuss how much you make or what you can pay until you have been quoted a price. Avoid attorneys who always advise their clients to plead guilty. Seek out DUI lawyers who are highly recommended by Judges, Prosecutors and DUI police officers.

Arizona DUI Facts:

FACT: It is illegal for an Arizona prosecutor to dismiss a DUI case without having a good legal or factual reason.

FACT: If more people challenged their DUI cases, the prosecutors offices would quickly become overwhelmed and would have to deal more favorably with those those wo didn't challenge their case.

FACT: Every Arizona DUI conviction mandates the installation of an ignition interlock device.

FACT: The maximum jail time for a single misdemeanor DUI is 180 days in jail. The minimum is 1 day. Many factors go into the equation of what punishment a DUI conviction warrants.

 

 

About Daniel M. Jaffe, Arizona DUI Lawyer

Your Advocate and Advisor:

Daniel Jaffe is an experienced trial attorney. A graduate of the University of Arizona College Of Law and admitted to practice since 1998, Mr. Jaffe brings both the energy and enthusiasm of youth, and the experience of nearly a decade in the field to each case.

Mr. Jaffe runs a small, high-quality law practice, and gives each client personal attention and guidance.

Bio: Daniel Jaffe.