Police Seeing Higher BAC Levels in Those Charged With DUI
Cases of "extreme DUI" and "super extreme DUI" -- where the driver's BAC is more than .15 percent -- have risen sharply in Arizona in recent years.
June 10, 2011
Some Arizona law enforcement officials estimate that the number of so-called "extreme DUI" cases -- those involving drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 percent or more -- have doubled in recent years. Cases of "super extreme DUI" -- where the driver's BAC is more than .20 percent -- have also risen sharply. From a law enforcement standpoint, this trend has resulted in tougher crackdowns on possible drunken drivers, and the public outcry will no doubt pressure judges to "throw the book" at people charged with higher-level DUI offenses.More arrests for aggravated DUI charges are expected as summer driving season -- traditionally defined as the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day -- gets into full swing across the state. With countless locals and tourists alike hitting the road to see the sights and having cocktails to relax, police around Arizona and across the country have amped up DUI patrols and checkpoints to coincide with the extra traffic, looking not only for drivers whose BAC is above the legal limit of .08, but especially for those with particularly elevated BACs.
As BAC Goes Up, So Do Penalties
In Arizona, as in other states, aggravated DUI charges -- where the driver's BAC is .15 percent or higher -- carry much steeper consequences than standard DUI charges. Whereas a traditional DUI charge -- where the driver's BAC is between .08 and .14 percent -- carries with it the possibility of between one and 180 days in jail and a minimum fine of $250, an extreme DUI conviction brings a minimum of 30 days behind bars and at least $500 in fines. Extreme DUI convictions also result in longer periods of license suspension, mandatory installation of ignition interlock devices and an automatic impounding of the vehicle for 30 days. Super extreme DUIs have even higher penalties.
Whether you are facing a standard DUI charge or an aggravated one, if you have been arrested for DUI, you need a skilled DUI defense attorney at your side to protect your rights and fight for your freedom.
Article provided by The Gillespie Law Firm, PC
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