Officers to Ramp Up DUIs Around 2022 Holiday Season

At the Law Office of James E. Novak, part of our job is to meet with clients in moments of crisis and figure out how to craft a winning legal strategy that will meet their needs. Too often, we speak with clients who are facing DUI charges that could have been avoided. Roadways and highways in Arizona can be dangerous places, and it is important to drive with an acute awareness of your surroundings as you travel this holiday season.

Around Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s, state troopers know that drivers are more likely to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence of alcohol or drugs. With celebrations happening at an increased rate, drivers can easily become less vigilant about driving safely and about arranging for a designated driver ahead of time. Because of statistics that point to a clear increase in drunk driving during the month of December, officers put more time and resources into monitoring for DUIs at the end of the calendar year.

In Arizona, a person who drives with a blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) of .08 or higher is over the legal limit. For a first offense, when the BAC is between .08 and .149%, a driver faces a minimum of ten days in jail; when the BAC is between .15 and .199%, a driver faces a minimum of 30 days in jail; and when the BAC is over .20%, a driver faces a minimum of 45 days in jail. Each of these sentences is also accompanied by fines, license suspensions of at least 90 days, and orders to install ignition interlock devices as a method of surveillance.

When you want to be spending your holidays at home, with family and friends, these consequences become not only inconvenient but also incredibly damaging to your record and burdensome on your time and resources. Because facing DUI charges is never timely, the best thing you can do for yourself is to make a plan so that you never find yourself at risk in the first place.

Always remember to arrange for a taxi, an Uber, or a designated driver if you know you will be drinking. Even if you know you will only be enjoying one or two drinks, it is safer to avoid giving officers a reason to suspect that you have any substances in your system at all. Make a plan and stick to it – you never know how much trouble you will save yourself in the process.

Are You Looking for a DUI Attorney in Arizona?

If you are facing charges for a DUI in Arizona, give us a call at the Law Office of James E. Novak. We fight aggressively to get our clients’ charges dropped, and we have been recognized by the national legal industry for our award-winning DUI defense. For your free and confidential consultation, give us a call today at 480-413-1499. You can also fill out our online form to get your questions answered.