Interviewer: A first-time DUI, what are some of the consequences that someone may face to that?
There Are Fines Totaling Approximately $1600
Brian Sloan: On a first-time DUI, it kind of depends on what city you’re in. You’re going to get somewhere around $1,600 in fines and fees. The fines and fees don’t usually change. There are very few cities that will try and raise those fines and fees. Sixteen hundred dollars is about the minimum. Most people, no matter what, are going to pay the minimum fines and fees.
There Is the Potential of a Six Month Jail Sentence
What is still up in the air is how much time a person would do if they were convicted on the first time regular DUI. They can get anywhere from one day in jail up to six months in jail, but every person who is convicted of a DUI has to do at least do one day in jail.
Even though Arizona advertises, “Expect the max,” realistically, I can’t say that I’ve even seen anyone get the maximum sentence on a first-time regular DUI. But technically, if the judge wanted to, they can give anywhere from one day in jail up to six months in jail on the first-time regular DUI.
Approximately Half of the Misdemeanor Courts Will Impose Probation
Interviewer: Would someone be sentenced to probation?
Brian Sloan: I’ll say about half of the misdemeanor courts do not do probation. The other half do probation, but it is unsupervised probation, which is basically in place to insure that the person does not commit any other offenses and also to make sure that they have done their time in jail, that they’ve paid off their fines and fees and that they’ve done their counseling.
Interviewer: How long is that generally?
Brian Sloan: It can be up to five years. Half the courts don’t do any probation. The other half tend to do the maximum term of probation of five years, but when someone pays off their fines and fees, does their jail time, does their counseling, then the probation just ends.
All Convictions for DUI Carry a Mandatory Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device
Interviewer: What about situations where someone is required to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle?
Brian Sloan: Everyone convicted of any sort of DUI is going to be required to have an Ignition Interlock Device placed on any vehicle they operate. It depends on what type of DUI you are convicted of. If you are convicted of a first-time regular DUI and there are no accidents and it is alcohol, then that person is required to have it on their vehicle for one year.
A Conviction for an Extreme or Super-Extreme DUI Will Entail the Device Be Installed for 18 Months
However, it can be reduced down to six months if they do the first six months correctly. If a person is convicted of an extreme or super-extreme misdemeanor DUI, they are going to be required to have the Ignition Interlock Device on their vehicle for one year for an extreme or for 18 months for a super-extreme.
If they are convicted of a Class 6 Aggravated DUI, that’s a felony, they are required to have the Ignition Interlock Device on any vehicle they operate for at least two years, but because of some provisions in the law, they may actually have it on longer to get the benefit of at least being able to drive.
If they are convicted of a Class 4 Aggravated DUI, they are going to be expected to have it on their vehicle for two years after going through one-year license verification.