RATED ONE OF SCOTTSDALE’S TOP DUI LAWYERS

Scottsdale is one of the largest entertainment attractions in America. On any given Friday or Saturday night, the police are driving in and around Scottsdale looking to arrest people for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. There are certain driving behaviors that are technically illegal, but if performed during the daytime, a driver will never be pulled over. The Scottsdale Police are looking for people to make wide left or right turns, come to a rolling stop, or slightly drift in and out of a lane of traffic. Again, if you stand on a corner during the daylight, you will see most motorists drive this way, but at night, they become easy reasons for Scottsdale Police to pull over to investigate a DUI. Their reasoning is that after a certain time of night, there is a high probability that most drivers have been drinking.

At Scottsdale Lawyers, we know the stakes after a DUI charge. We’ve helped people throughout Tempe fight against these types of accusations.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO HIRE A LAWYER TO FIGHT YOUR DUI CASE

There are two very important reasons why you should hire a lawyer for your DUI case. First, without a lawyer, you have a zero percent chance of having your case dismissed. Because our lawyers have handled thousands of DUI cases, we know exactly what to look for in hopes of beating a case. From the clients’ perspectives, the facts of their DUIs are all very similar. People frequently call our office to give us a basic, general rundown of their cases and ask us what their chances are of having the case dismissed. It is impossible for any ethical lawyer to evaluate a DUI case after a 10-minute conversation.

The facts that a potential client gives about their DUI are usually not helpful at all. They are not trained on what to look for and they are unfamiliar with the forensics of a DUI. The specifics are what our lawyers need and use to provide exceptional outcomes. The only way we can gather specifics is to be on board with your case.

FACING EXTREME OR SUPER EXTREME DUIS?

Many people don’t realize there are several types of DUIs. The type of DUI you will be charged with all depends on what your alleged blood or breath alcohol content was. Scottsdale is one of the few cities that tests breath and blood. If you are reading this and you were arrested by Scottsdale Police, but you only had blood drawn, this typically means you refused the breathalyzer and the police had to get a warrant to draw your blood. If this sounds familiar, you need to call us immediately. If the police had to get a warrant, if you do not take action, your drivers license will be suspended for one year on the sixteenth day following your arrest.

If your breath or blood results were greater than .15, but under a .20, you will be facing at least three DUI charges – Impaired to the Slightest Degree, BAC > .08, and BAC > .15. There are many penalties associated with an Extreme DUI that are more severe than a regular DUI. For instance, if convicted, the fine will be higher, you will be sentenced to more days in jail, and you will be required to have a breathalyzer in your car for longer.

The range of penalties for a Super Extreme DUI is wide. On the very low end, the judge could sentence you to 3 days in jail, followed by 11 days of home detention. For the 3 days in jail, you will not be allowed to be out for work. For the 11 days of home detention, you can be out for up to 12 hours per day for work. Aside from being at home and having the ability to leave for work, the other advantage of home detention is the cost. Unlike several hundred dollars per day that you spend in jail (yes, you have to pay to go to jail), home detention costs around $50 per day. As you can see, this is a huge financial savings.

On the high end of penalties, the judge could sentence you to up to 45 days in jail; or if this is your second Super Extreme DUI in 7 years, you’re running the risk of 180 days in jail. Sometimes, the judge will even order a lengthier sentence if there was an accident involved.

If you hire our attorneys, our first priority is to get your case dismissed. People frequently ask us what the possibilities of a case dismissal are. My response is always the same, if you don’t have a skilled DUI lawyer, your chances of a dismissal is zero. With a lawyer that understands the complexities of Scottsdale DUI laws, your chances significantly improve.

WHAT GROUNDS DO THE POLICE NEED TO PULL SOMEONE OVER?

To pull someone over, the police need reasonable suspicion that someone has committed a traffic offense or may be under the influence of alcohol. Common reasons for pulling someone over for DUI is speeding, swerving, unsafe lane change, failure to stop a traffic control device. Reasonable suspicion is an extremely low burden. Essentially, a police officer can pull someone over for pretty much anything.

IF I ADMITTED TO DRINKING DOES THAT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN I’M GUILTY?

Admission to drinking alcohol does not mean you’re guilty. Keep in mind, it’s not illegal to drink and drive – it’s illegal to be under the influence of alcohol.

WHAT IF THE OFFICER SAID HE SMELLED ALCOHOL ON MY BREATH?

The smell of alcohol alone is not enough to believe someone is impaired. It’s possible to have a sip of alcohol and still smell – you certainly wouldn’t be impaired. It’s impossible for a police officer to tell how much alcohol a person has consumed based off smell.

I PASSED ALL THE FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS, WHY WAS I ARRESTED?

Our attorneys have handled thousands of DUI cases, there hasn’t been a single DUI where the person has passed the field sobriety tests. As good as you may have thought you did, the officers are looking for the smallest things to consider your performance a “failure.” Challenging field sobriety tests is crucial in effective DUI representation. You have to remember, police officers lies all the time – here’s a video of Scottsdale Police caught in a lie and falsely accusing someone of a DUI. Officer Brian Steel, who is in the video, handles several DUIs in the Old Town area. We routinely see Officer Steel as the arresting officer. Without a lawyer, it will be impossible to challenge the police and attack the inaccuracies in their statements.

WHY DIDN’T THE OFFICER GIVE ME A POLICE REPORT?

The officer gave you a citation. Citations just go over the general charges you’re facing. In about two weeks following your arrest, your actual police report will be available. Reports are about 2-5 pages are provide the details of your arrest.

WHY DID THE OFFICER TAKE BY BREATH AND BLOOD?

Scottsdale is one of the only cities in Arizona that takes blood and breath. They will not analyze your blood unless your case is set for trial. Until then, they will just prosecute based on the results of your breath test.

HOW DO I GET MY CAR OUT OF IMPOUND?

Under Arizona law, if you are suspected of an extreme DUI, your car will remain in impound for 30 days. If you are married or someone else is on the title or registration, you can get it out immediately.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR A DUI?

Consequences all depend on the blood/breath alcohol level and whether this is your first, second or third DUI within 7 years. The range for a first-time DUI is 1-45 days in jail. As you can see, because the range is significant, it’s important to hire a lawyer that will fight to provide the best outcome.

DO NOT HIRE AN OVERPRICED LAW FIRM

Potential clients consistently tell our lawyers that some law firms are quoting $6,000 – $12,000 for Scottsdale DUI representation. Do not pay this much for DUI representation, it is way too much. Do not fall into the trap that by paying this much you will receive superior representation. One of the benefits of our law firm is that we have streamlined the DUI process. Our lawyers are at the Scottsdale Court on nearly a daily basis. Oftentimes, the law firms charging thousands of dollars are charging because they have to constantly switch gears; meaning, they may have a case in one part of the Valley in the morning, then an opposite part of the Valley in the afternoon.

They need to charge more because they can’t be in two places at one time. Because our attorneys will likely already be at the Scottsdale Court, we can charge significantly less than our competitors. Unlike our competitors, our legal fees include representing clients in court and the motor vehicle division. Because of the number of cases we handle in Scottsdale, we have developed a unique approach to handling Scottsdale DUIs in the most effective, result-driven manner possible. Call us today at 480-674-0396 or send us an email to schedule your consultation.