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At less than an hour and a half drive from Phoenix, many visitors to Arizona will head up to Payson for a day trip to enjoy the cooler weather in the White Mountains. Others travel to central Arizona from parts of New Mexico, passing through Payson on their way. Police officers are waiting for unsuspecting tourists that may have stopped in town for a few drinks with lunch, or that may take common prescription medications that can cause impairment. A vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare if you are stopped and arrested for a DUI. Most people visiting from another state are shocked by the harsh penalties that come with an out-of-state DUI arrest or conviction in Payson.
Trying to figure out how you will be able to navigate criminal charges while living in another state can be a daunting task. We are available 24/7 to help you with your Arizona DUI case. Whether you want to meet with us before you leave town or if you have already left town and need guidance on what to do, we are ready to help.
Understand that you may be facing a 90-day or 1-year driver’s license suspension 15 days after your arrest, so it is best to contact an Arizona DUI attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions from our out of state DUI clients. However, every case is different, so we advise that you contact our Payson DUI lawyers to discuss the details of your specific situation.
Aside from asking what the consequences are for a DUI conviction in Arizona, one of the most common questions we receive from people is whether they will have to come back to Arizona for court if they live out of state. A typical DUI case will take more than a few months to resolve, with multiple court appearances during that span. For most misdemeanor DUI cases, the attorneys at the Rosenstein Law Group can handle court appearances for you, so you do not have to worry about the added time and expenses involved in traveling back and forth to Arizona.
The punishments for a DUI arrest or conviction in Arizona can reach beyond state lines. When it comes to a driver’s license suspension, many people question whether their home state driver’s license will be suspended when they see language stating that their Arizona driving privilege will be suspended or revoked. If your driver’s license is from a state other than Arizona, you may still face a lengthy suspension or revocation.
If you commit a traffic violation, such as a DUI, in Arizona, that information is shared with other states by the Arizona MVD through the Interstate Driver’s License Compact. This compact is an agreement between states that allows them to input data about a person’s motor vehicle record into a national database. Many states have different laws and regulations when it comes to driver’s license suspensions as a result of a DUI arrest or conviction, so the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administration (AAMVA) publishes the AAMVA Code Dictionary (ACD).
The ACD is a set of codes used to set a nationwide standard to identify types of traffic related convictions and suspensions or revocations. If you have a conviction or suspension related to an alcohol offense, your driving record will show an ACD code beginning with an “A” and followed by two numbers. This ACD code will give notice to your home state that you were convicted of or received a suspension or revocation as a result of an alcohol related offense, such as a DUI in Arizona. The state in which you hold your driver’s license can then take action to suspend, revoke, or place restrictions on your driver’s license.
Each state treats DUI license suspensions and revocations differently but having an experienced DUI attorney in Arizona can help reduce or prevent any negative driver’s license impacts in your home state.
A misdemeanor DUI conviction may result in jail time ranging from 10 to 180 days. However, just because you were charged with a DUI don’t mean that you will ultimately be convicted. We aggressively defend our clients who find themselves charged with a DUI offense. If we can have the charges dismissed or we win at trial, you will not be looking at any jail time. In other cases, we will work to reduce charges to lower-level offenses. This may eliminate jail time, ignition interlock requirements, fees, and substance abuse classes.
If you ultimately end up with a jail sentence, we will work with you to reduce the consequences of incarceration. In some cases, we may be able to reduce jail time with alternatives like home detention or work release. Additionally, if you do not live in Arizona, we can work with you to arrange for your incarceration at a facility in your home state.
At the Rosenstein Law Group, we work with many clients who live outside of Arizona. We are open 24/7, so no matter what your travel plans looks like, we are available to schedule a free consultation. The Rosenstein Law Group can help you avoid complications that come with being charged with a DUI in Arizona as an out-of-state driver. Contact us at 480-248-7666 or online to schedule a free consultation today.