As the numbers slowly trickle in regarding the statewide holiday DUI crackdown, preliminary figures are showing impressive enforcement numbers.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety stated on Sunday that approximately 4,000 suspected drunk drivers have been arrested in the Grand Canyon State since the crackdown began on Nov. 24, reports KPHO.
Breaking the number of arrests down further, approximately 1,085 drivers were arrested for extreme DUIs and 385 people had been arrested for aggravated DUIs, according to the Office of Highway Safety’s press release.
Extreme DUIs are charged against drivers who are found to have a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.15 percent. Those convicted of an extreme DUI face enhanced penalties, even it is your first offense. These include mandatory jail time of a minimum of 30 days, license suspension for 90 days, and $2,500 in fines and assessments.
Aggravated DUI charges are felonies typically reserved for repeat offenders, but they can be charged against drivers for specific, enumerated reasons, such as having minor passengers in the vehicle at the time of the arrest. The consequences of a conviction include a minimum of 30 days in jail, license revocation for three years, and increased fines and assessments.
The high number of DUI arrests is the result of the efforts of the Arizona Holiday DUI Task Force, which ran until Jan. 1. Approximately 70 law enforcement agencies were enforcing traffic laws on New Year's Eve across the state, resulting in thousands of extra police officers on the road, according to Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
If you were one of the thousands of drivers arrested during the holiday DUI crackdown, you should consider speaking with a Phoenix DUI attorney, especially if you are facing such severe charges as an extreme DUI or aggravated DUI.
It's probably not a good sign for the rest of the year to start it off with a criminal record.
Related Resources:
- Find a Phoenix DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- DUI Checkpoints (FindLaw)
- Holiday DUI Crackdown: More than 2,800 DUI Arrests (The Phoenix DUI Blog)
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