Difference between Misdemeanor DUI, Extreme DUI and Super Extreme DUI

Being charged with driving under the influence / DUI in Arizona is not as simple as one set of charges or penalties. Instead, there are multiple levels of DUI charges, each with its own set of repercussions. Which charges will be filed is dependent upon a multitude of factors, starting from when you get behind the wheel and according to what transpires while you are driving under the influence. Arizona DUI laws are classified as Misdemeanor, Extreme, or Super Extreme.

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DUI penalties in Arizona are determined according to the severity of the crime, with DUI rated as a Misdemeanor DUI, Extreme DUI or Super Extreme DUI.

Some penalties that may be applied after conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) in Arizona include:

• Incarceration in jail or prison
• Probation or parole
• Your driver’s license suspended or revoked
• Installation of an ignition interlock device in each of your personally owned vehicles
• Loss of automotive insurance, mandating SR22 – much more expensive – auto insurance
• Court-ordered driving school
• Community service hours
• Impounding of your personal vehicle
• Fines and fees measuring into the thousands of dollars

Regardless of the whether your DUI charges are Normal, Extreme or Super Extreme, you need the help of an experienced DUI lawyer. Courts in Arizona take DUI charges extremely seriously and penalties can result in financial and job losses for years to come. You may also experience jail or prison time and other major inconveniences.

Normal Misdemeanor DUI Cases

A “normal” DUI is charged when the driver has a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) ranges anywhere from 0.08 percent to 0.14 percent. This type of DUI is usually just called a DUI in Arizona, being the most frequently charged level of driving under the influence. This is a misdemeanor charge. But Normal DUI charges can still carry stiff penalties that affect your life permanently.

Penalties for a first time, Normal DUI may be:

• 24 hours to 10 days of jail time
• Fines from $250 and up
• Suspension of your driver’s license for as many as 360 days

A second charge of Normal DUI brings the following penalties:

• 30 days to 90 days of jail time
• Fines from $500 and up
• Suspension of your driver’s license for a year

What Makes a DUI an Extreme DUI?

An Extreme DUI charge is charged when the driver’s BAC level is 0.15 to 0.19. This is more severe than a Misdemeanor DUI, yet just under the severity of a Super Extreme DUI. Extreme DUI is still a misdemeanor charge in Arizona. However, this level of DUI carries stiff penalties with greater severity than Misdemeanor DUI carries. When an Extreme DUI charges result in a conviction, the punishment is ten times more jail time that you would receive for a Misdemeanor DUI first offense.

Penalties for first-time charges of Extreme DUI may be:

• Mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail with no days suspended
• Payment of a $2,500 fine
• Mandatory attendance of alcohol classes
• Installation of an ignition interlock device in your personal vehicles for one year, costing you $1500 for this device and installation
• Possibility of an alcohol monitoring device being mandated for wear on your ankle, or twice-daily testing by means of a telephonic breath testing device

What Makes a DUI a Super Extreme DUI?

Super Extreme DUI is charged when a driver has a BAC of 0.20 percent or higher within two hours of driving. The punishment for Super Extreme DUI is much more severe than either Normal DUI or Extreme DUI and includes 45 times more jail time than a Misdemeanor, first-offense DUI.

Penalties for first-time charges of Super Extreme DUI may be:

• Mandatory minimum of 45 days in jail with no days suspended
• Payment of a $2,750 fine
• Mandatory attendance of alcohol classes (usually at least 36 of these classes)
• Installation of an ignition interlock device in your personal vehicles for 18 months, costing you $2000 for this device and installation
• Possibility of an alcohol monitoring device being mandated for wear on your ankle, or twice-daily testing by means of a telephonic breath testing device

Get the Help of an Experienced DUI Attorney

Whether you are charged with Misdemeanor DUI, Extreme DUI or Super Extreme DUI, facing these charges will be one of the biggest fights of your life. Arizona has very stiff in its penalties for DUI-convictions, with sentences that are meant to prevent you from committing the same offense again. In fact, Arizona is known as the toughest DUI state in the country.

From the moment you are charged with DUI, you need an experienced and aggressive DUI lawyer on your side. There is so much at stake and you should never take Arizona DUI charges lightly. Call the DMCantor at 602.307.0808 for a free consultation regarding your case and to gain the guidance you urgently need.