Laws - View Law: DRUNK DRIVING

UPDATE 9/1/01 - the legal limit for alcohol in your system (blood alcohol content) to be considered DUI has just been lowered from .10 to .08 in Arizona. Although it is illegal for you to drink if you are not 21 years of age, this new law lowers the threshold for being legally drunk while driving. There are very serious consequences to drinking and driving...

If you are under 18 years old, you are considered a minor or a juvenile. If you are a juvenile and arrested and convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs this is what will happen:

1. You will be incarcerated for 24 hours in a juvenile detention center or the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections for a first time DUI.

2. Your drivers license or privileges will be suspended for two(2) years.

3. You must pay a fine of at least $100 and not more than $500 plus surcharges.

4. You must undergo mandatory drug and alcohol screening, education and treatment and pay all the costs. Your parent or guardian may also be ordered to pay the costs.

5. You may be ordered to perform at least 80 hours of community service.

6. The DUI conviction will remain on your drivers license record for 60 months.

If you commit a second DUI violation within 60 months you will be:

1. Locked up for 30 days in a juvenile detention center or the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.

2. All fines, penalties and mandatory testing are applied as in a first offense.

If you commit a 3rd DUI offense within 60 months, you are now guilty of Aggravated DUI and the penalty includes:

Locked up for a minimum of 4 months and all fines, penalties and mandatory testing apply.

If you commit a 4th DUI offense within 60 months, you will be:

Locked up for a minimum of 8 months and all fines, penalties and mandatory testing apply.

If you are a juvenile and commit a DUI while you are driving on a cancelled, suspended, revoked or refused drivers license any prior offense or on a restricted license for a prior DUI, you are guilty of a class 4 felony. The punishment is the same as though you had a prior two(2) DUI's and this the 3rd DUI, meaning that you may spend up to 4 months in lockup.

If you are a juvenile and commit a DUI while you are driving on a license that has been cancelled, suspended, revoked, or restricted for a prior DUI, you are guilty of a class 4 felony. You will spend 30 days in a juvenile detention center or incarcerated at the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. You will also receive a chronic offender notice.