Phoenix DUI Law Blog

Given the manner in which Arizona DUI laws are written and enforced, most people who are arrested and charged with an Arizona DUI offense have no idea that they were over the legal limit or were still under the influence of an intoxicating substance. Thus, the fact that Arizona has one of the strictest –…

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that those who are charged with criminal offenses have the right to counsel at all critical stages of a legal proceeding. Relatedly, the Fifth Amendment provides that no person can be compelled to be a witness against themselves in a criminal trial. Thus, in the 1966…

Recently, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in an Arizona aggravated DUI case that was brought against a man who was arrested for driving while under the influence while his license was suspended. The case required the court to determine if the lower court properly instructed the jurors that they could presume the…

Late last month, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in an Arizona DUI case in which the court had to determine if the officer’s arrest of the defendant was supported by probable cause. The case gave the court the opportunity to discuss probable cause in the DUI context, and what the prosecution must…

While getting pulled over may seem random – and indeed, sometimes it is – police officers are not permitted to pull motorists over for no reason. In fact, when a traffic stop is challenged, police officers must be able to articulate the reasons they relied upon for stopping a motorist. If a police officer does…

In a recent opinion, an Arizona state court discussed the “medical draw exception” to the general requirement that police obtain a search warrant before taking the blood of someone they suspect to be under the influence. The case offered the court the opportunity to clarify the narrow set of circumstances under which the exception applies.…

Earlier this year, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in an Arizona DUI case, discussing when a police officer has cause to pull a motorist over for swerving. Ultimately, the court concluded that the defendant’s driving did warrant the officer’s traffic stop, and thus affirmed the denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress.…

Being arrested and charged with an Arizona DUI offense is a stressful, frustrating, and frightening experience. Indeed, depending on the charge, someone may be facing fines, license suspension, and time in jail. It may be tempting for some to try to get the case over with as soon as possible. However, before someone accepts the…

Normally, after someone is found guilty of an Arizona DUI charge by a judge or jury, they are able to appeal the case to a higher court, arguing that their conviction should be reversed or a new trial granted based upon some legal error committed at the court below. There are many types of errors…

Recently, a state appellate court issued an opinion in an Arizona DUI case requiring the court to determine if the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to convict the defendant. Specifically, the defendant challenged the finding that she was operating the vehicle. Ultimately, the court upheld the defendant’s conviction, finding that the fact that…