DUI & Traffic Defense Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights when pulled over by police?

What happens if I’m caught driving on a suspended license?

How do I reinstate a suspended driver’s license in Arizona?

How long do points stay on a driving record in Arizona?

What is the Arizona Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) legal limit?

Can I represent myself in a DUI case?

Should I pay an out-of-state speeding ticket?

Will an out-of-state traffic ticket affect my insurance?

What happens if I ignore my speeding ticket, parking ticket, or traffic ticket?

Should I tell my employer about my DUI?

 

What are my rights when pulled over by police?

You have the right to consult with an attorney, and to be treated fairly and respectfully. You also have the right to be informed about the reason for the stop, and to be informed as to the reason why you are being detained.

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What happens if I’m caught driving on a suspended license?

You may be arrested, and can have your vehicle impounded. If you are arrested for DUI and your license is suspended, you may be charged with a felony.

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How do I reinstate a suspended driver’s license in Arizona?

First contact the MVD to determine why you license is suspended. You may have multiple suspensions from different courts, or for different reasons. When you contact the MVD they will advise you of any suspension, and which court you need to contact in order to have the suspension removed. In other cases, you may have not complied with a directive of the MVD and will need to comply in order to get your license reinstated.

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How long do points stay on a driving record in Arizona?

For any MVD action based upon points, the MVD will look at any one 12 month period to determine if any action needs to be taken due to acquiring too many points. As it relates to auto insurance, most insurance companies will look back anywhere between 3 to 5 years at your license to determine an insurance rate.

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What is the Arizona Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) legal limit?

Arizona has different DUI charges based upon different BAC’s. There is BAC above .08, Extreme DUI .15 or higher, and Super Extreme DUI which is .20 or higher. In addition, Arizona has DUI, Impaired to the Slightest Degree, which can include someone below .08 who may still be impaired by the alcohol they consumed.

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Can I represent myself in a DUI case?

Yes you can, however, it would not be a wise decision.

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Should I pay an out-of-state speeding ticket?

You should not ignore any speeding ticket, even an out-of-state ticket. You may be defaulted by the home state, which may cause your Arizona driver license to be suspended.

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Will an out-of-state traffic ticket affect my insurance?

If it is reported to the Arizona MVD and becomes part of your driving record, it may.

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What happens if I ignore my speeding ticket, parking ticket, or traffic ticket?

You may be defaulted by the court, and ordered to pay a fine without the opportunity for a hearing. If the MVD is notified, you license may be suspended as well.

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Should I tell my employer about my DUI?

That will depend on your obligations as an employee. Also, you may want to consider the impact of not telling your employer and having them find out on their own. If you do not have an obligation and you do not believe it would impact your employment even if your employer later found out about it, you may want to consider not disclosing the information as it would not be relevant to your employment.

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Please note that the information contained here is for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice. For more information, see our Disclaimer.