Phoenix DUI Law Blog

In Arizona, an officer that sees an individual commit a traffic violation can reasonably initiate a traffic stop. The traffic stop must only last the brief amount of time that it takes an officer to address the traffic violation with the driver. Then, in general, the officer must let the driver leave. In certain circumstances,…

In Arizona, as in every state, there are consequences for driving under the influence (DUI). What many people don’t know, however, is that there are several different kinds of DUI, and there are different penalties that come with each kind. The following summaries provide basic descriptions of each kind of DUI in Arizona; however, the…

In a recent case before the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, the defendant asked the court to reconsider his conviction and sentence for transportation of a dangerous drug for sale. The defendant was originally subject to a traffic stop while he was in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The car’s driver had a…

In a criminal case revolving around homicide or murder, it is a long-standing rule in Arizona that photos of the victim’s body are automatically relevant to the proceedings. This rule can be harmful for defendants in these cases, especially in jury trials where jury members will be jarred or emotionally distraught by the photos. In…

A recent case before the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One highlights the limit of Fourth Amendment protections when a government actor is not involved in a search or seizure. The June 2024 case revolves around images that several teachers found on their co-teacher’s laptop. Even though the defendant tried to argue that the superior…

A recent case before the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, demonstrates the difficulty of fighting charges when the facts are not in your favor. In the case at issue, the defendant pled not guilty to burglary, and his case later went to trial. The court then sentenced him to 20 years in prison. In…

Can a defendant successfully suppress incriminating statements he made during a confession because of violent conduct from the police? In short, sometimes. A recent case coming out of the Court of Appeals of Arizona, First Division explores this question, and the case ultimately decided that when the police officers’ violent conduct happens separately from the…

For a police officer to conduct a traffic stop in Arizona, he or she must have reasonable suspicion to believe that criminal activity is afoot. Without this reasonable suspicion, the officer has no legal basis to pull over a vehicle. How do courts define “reasonable suspicion?” There are some basic standards in place from Arizona…

In the criminal context, the defendant’s mental state when committing a murder is important. In Arizona, courts differentiate between a murder that was “knowing or intentional,” and “reckless.” A recent case before the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two, highlights the important differences between both categories – the difference, for better or for worse, can…

Recently, the Arizona Supreme Court issued an important ruling clarifying how trial courts must deal with the conflict when they are faced with the reality of (or appearance of) bias. In the case at issue, the state charged a defendant with several fraud-related offenses, including illegally obtaining and using another person’s credit card. As it…