tempe DUI

March 15, 2013

Tempe Police Announce DUI Task Force for St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

Tempe Police warn drivers to plan ahead.

Tempe Police Department announced this week that it will be working in cooperation with Scottsdale Police, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, and the AZ Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in a joint DUI Task Enforcement. It is scheduled to take place surrounding the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day festivities, beginning Sunday March 17, 2013.

A command post will be set up at the Tempe Fire Training Facility located 1340 E. University Drive in Tempe AZ. The major cross streets are University Drive and Dorsey Lane, between Rural Road and McClintock Drive. Mobile Patrol units will increase presence throughout Scottsdale, and Tempe neighborhoods and city streets.

The increased enforcement is being funded as part of generous $7.5 million grant to police agencies throughout Arizona, by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The Governor announced last month that she is focusing on joint efforts to enforce, educate, and engineer safer roads throughout the state, and reduce fatal and serious accidents caused by impaired driving.

A majority of the funds are being allocated for DUI enforcement, patrols and checkpoints which include specialized detection equipment and vehicles. The remaining amounts will be allocated towards education and media efforts.

DUI Trends in Tempe AZ

Tempe Police reports both drunk driving and drug DUI arrests near ASU spiked upwards to 44 percent over the last two years. They reported 1,695 DUI arrests in 2011 and 2,439 coming from 2012. A large number of these arrests were made for youth or underage 21 drinking.

Another upward crime trend along with Tempe DUI charges has been the number of fake IDs confiscated by police. In 2012 approximately 1,800 fake IDs were seized from persons at local Tempe Businesses. The police expect this to decrease the number of DUI arrests in 2013.

ASU Police will be working closely with Student Judicial Affairs Office, ASU Off-Campus Student Services, and Tempe Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and Drug Use to combat the problems.

Criminal Defense for Underage DUI or Underage 21 Drinking

Underage 21 drinking or Underage DUI charges are classified as criminal offenses. They can expose a person to jail terms; suspension or denial of driver’s licenses for up to two years; probation; fines, fees, substance abuse screening, education or counseling, use of Ignition Interlock Device on the vehicle you drive, and other penalties. Other consequences may result from a conviction including loss of job, suspension from organized sports, school, or adverse impacts in US residency. If you are charged with any type of DUI or criminal violation you should always consult a qualified criminal defense attorney before pleading guilty. They will discuss you matter with you and provide you with defense options. If retained, they will provide a defense, and protect your rights throughout the criminal justice process.

Additional Resources:

• Tempe DUI Task Force Command Post Location for St. Patrick’s Day Enforcement

• Tempe AZ Criminal Court

• Tempe Police Department Announcement

• Arizona DUI Laws

• Arizona Underage 21 Drinking and DUI Laws

November 16, 2010

Arizona Marijuana DUI Laws | Medical Marijuana DUI

by James E. Novak, P.L.L.C.

Arizona Marijuana DUI Defense
The passing of Medical Marijuana Prop 203 does not affect Arizona’s Drug DUI laws.
The fact that you may be a qualified card holder to use Marijuana (pot, weed, grass, cannabis) does not give you immunity against the strict Arizona DUI laws. If you are stopped by the police and determined to be driving “impaired to the slightest degree” with Marijuana in your system, you may be arrested or charged with an Arizona DUI. If you have been arrested or charged with a Drug DUI or Marijuana DUI you should consult an Arizona drug defense, criminal defense, or DUI lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your Arizona DUI charges and defense options.

Arizona Marijuana DUI Laws
Arizona Law prohibits use of driving a vehicle while “impaired to the slightest degree”, due to any drug, alcohol, vapor releasing, intoxicating, or toxic substance in the body. Arizona DUI laws are strict.

Even if you are a certified card holder for Arizona medical Marijuana use, or you have taken any other drug legally prescribed by a licensed physician, or an over-the-counter drug at your local drug store, A.R.S. 28-1381 3.B. will apply. Below are portions of the
Arizona DUI drug laws:
Arizona Revised Statutes
“A.R.S. 28-1381. Driving or actual physical control while under the influence; trial by jury; presumptions; admissible evidence; sentencing; classification
A. It is unlawful for a person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle in this state under any of the following circumstances:

1. While under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vapor releasing substance containing a toxic substance or any combination of liquor, drugs or vapor releasing substances if the person is impaired to the slightest degree….

3. While there is any drug defined in section 13-3401 or its metabolite in the person’s body…

B. It is not a defense to a charge of a violation of subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section that the person is or has been entitled to use the drug under the laws of this state.

C. A person who is convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor….”
(Cited in Part: Arizona State Website azleg.state.az.us/)

Arizona DUI with Marijuana Testing | DUI Marijuana evidence
The most common way Arizona police test for DUI with Marijuana is through blood testing and Urine testing. Both are controversial with regard to the test results and may be argued by your marijuana DUI defense lawyer as to whether or not they are admissible or should be suppressed as improper evidence depending on many circumstances. The prosecution will usually insist without justifiable circumstances that the blood or urine testing is accurate and admissible as evidence to use against you. A good Arizona defense Attorney will examine the evidence to determine if a compelling argument can be made to suppress it and file the proper motions.

Arizona Marijuana DUI Penalties
Arizona has some of the toughest laws in the country for Drug DUI and any DUI. Below are jail or prison guidelines for DUI convictions. Note this chart does not include other penalties, fines, fees or punishments that apply for Phoenix DUI convictions. References are from A.R.S. 28 – 1381, 28-1382, and 28-1383:

• First DUI (non-extreme) .08+ BAC……………… 24 Hours in Jail
• Second DUI (non-extreme) .08+ BAC……………..30 Days in Jail
• First DUI Extreme .15+ BAC ……………………. .30 Days in Jail
• Second DUI Extreme .15+ BAC……………………. 120 Days in Jail
• First DUI Super Extreme .20+ BAC……………….. 45 Days in Jail
• 2nd Super Extreme .20+ BAC……………………..180 Days in jail
• Felony DUI (with aggravated classification)……4 Months in Prison
.
Arizona Marijuana DUI Defense Attorney
The criminal justice system in Arizona is a maze of procedures, protocol, turbulent legislation, and is not empathetic to persons charged with DUI, or DUI with drugs of any kind. The job of the Arizona prosecution is to convict you. They are not there to help you or to examine defense strategies to help you defend yourself. The judge can not do anything to help you unless proper motions and compelling arguments in your defense are presented through the proper legal channels. You will need a strong criminal defense attorney, Arizona DUI lawyer or criminal defense attorney in Arizona. There is too much for you at stake to go unrepresented by a proper Arizona DUI lawyer. They will be the your ally you need to protect your rights, make sure you are treated fairly, defend you, and do everything possible, to try to get your charges dismissed, reduced or the otherwise best outcome in your case.

November 6, 2010

Tempe Arrest | Criminal Rights | Criminal Defense

by James E. Novak, P.L.L.C.

TEMPE CRIMINAL ATTORNEY
A good Tempe criminal defense or Tempe DUI Lawyer will be your voice in the criminal justice system. They will make sure your Constitutional Rights are not violated. They will build a solid and effective defense on your behalf. Top criminal Attorneys will press compelling arguments in your defense to the Tempe Criminal Court and prosecution. There is no substitute for an experienced Tempe AZ criminal attorney or DUI lawyer who defends cases in Tempe, AZ who is also a skilled litigator.

If you were arrested in Tempe AZ or face criminal or DUI charges s in Tempe you need to retain a Tempe criminal defense attorney or Tempe DUI lawyer who has a vast amount of experience and knowledge of Arizona laws, your constitutional rights, Arizona criminal justice system, and protocol and defends cases frequently in Tempe AZ. Most importantly, your Tempe criminal attorney or Tempe DUI lawyer should be extremely familiar with the defenses that can be used to build you a solid and effective defense needed to challenge your Tempe criminal or Tempe DUI charges. An experienced Tempe Criminal Attorney or DUI Lawyer in Tempe will determine the best defense strategy to use, based on the circumstances of your criminal or DUI charges. Your Tempe criminal defense attorney or DUI lawyer in Tempe will use these defenses along with your protected constitutional rights in an attempt to get your criminal or DUI charges dismissed, reduced or an otherwise best possible outcome in your case.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER BEING ARRESTED IN TEMPE

• Arrest – In order for a Tempe, AZ arrest to be legal, the police must have “Probable Cause”. This means that the officer has reasonable belief that a crime was committed and you were the one who committed it. If the officer feels probable cause exists you will usually be placed in hand cuffs and taken into Tempe police custody.

• Booking – Your fingerprints taken, photograph or what some call “mug shot” will be taken; then they will confirm your identity with some routine questioning; they will then research your prior criminal convictions; then they will check to see if you were on probation or parole at the time of the current arrest.

• Arraignment – This is the initial Tempe Criminal Court appearance. At this stage you have formally been charged, but not convicted of the crime and the processing criminal justice system time-lines begin. This is where you may plead 1) guilty, 2) not guilty, or 3) no contest (no contest is when you do not admit guilt on the charges, but this lets the Court know that you do not dispute the criminal charges either).

• Resolution – 1) Charges dismissed 2) negotiated plea agreement for reduced charge or sentencing 3) Trial 4) jury decision of guilty or not guilty 5) judge sentencing if guilty.

• Sentencing – 1) If you are guilty or have agreed to a negotiated plea agreement you will receive your sentencing or penalties by the Tempe Court Judge. The judge has complete discretion to order any sentence that falls within the sentencing range of the crime for which you were found guilty.

Criminal Rights in Tempe
You have protected rights both under Federal and Arizona State constitutions. It is very important that you do not “waive” any protected rights without the presence or advice of your criminal attorney. If you decide on your own without consulting a Tempe criminal attorney or Tempe DUI lawyer to waive any of your rights, you may take the chance of jeopardizing your case and any defenses that otherwise could have used in your defense. You are not required to assist the Tempe Police or Tempe Court Prosecutor in making its case stronger against you. Some of the common rights you have are listed below and not all inclusive:

1) The right to remain silent;
2) The right to defense by an attorney;
3) The right not to answer questions without your criminal defense attorney present;
4) Your Miranda Rights must be read to you if you are arrested;
5) The right to enter a “Not Guilty” Plea;
6) The right to obtain and produce exculpatory (evidence favorable to your defense) evidence before or at trial;
7) The right to trial by jury;
8) The right to defend your criminal or dui charges before trial;
9) The right to avoid self-incrimination;
10) In the event of trial, the right to cross-examine or confront a witness testifying against you. It is highly recommended that you leave this to your qualified Tempe criminal defense attorney or trial lawyer in Tempe who is experienced in criminal defense litigation.

Criminal Law Tempe
Criminal Law in Arizona is strict, and comprehensive. Definitions, Classifications, Sentencing guidelines, and Penalties found in A.R.S. criminal code: Title 13 – Criminal Law http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes
DUI laws and DUI penalties in Arizona are some of the toughest in the United States. They are found in A.R.S. criminal code: Title 28 – Criminal Law http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.

DUI or Criminal charges in Tempe AZ, are governed by the State of Arizona’s rules and criminal codes.

Criminal Attorney Tempe AZ
Your future depends upon a strong defense by a criminal attorney who defends criminal or DUI charges frequently in Tempe Criminal Court. The choice is always yours to retain a criminal or DUI lawyer or not. However, given the harsh laws and punishments for Tempe criminal and Tempe DUI charges it is strongly recommended that you at least consult a criminal defense or DUI lawyer. The cold fact is that the Tempe prosecution is always relieved if the defendant chooses to go unrepresented because it makes their job easier to convict you. If fact, going to Tempe Criminal Court without qualified criminal attorney or DUI lawyer is certain to “fast track” a Tempe DUI or criminal conviction.

Some feel the Tempe criminal justice system is a vast maze of procedures, time-lines, and protocol, all set up to convict them. There is much truth to this. The process can be extremely exhausting, overwhelming and defeating for an unrepresented defendant. It is the job of the Prosecution to convict you. And they will work closely with police to get that conviction. Without good legal representation by a Tempe criminal attorney or DUI lawyer who defends cases frequently in Tempe, you may unintentionally say or do something that will unknowingly harm your defense, and strengthen the Prosecution’s case against you. You don’t want to unknowingly contribute to your conviction.

A good Tempe criminal defense or Tempe DUI Lawyer will be your voice in the criminal justice system. They will build a solid and effective defense on your behalf. Then they will press compelling arguments in your defense to the Tempe Criminal Court and prosecution. There is no substitute for an experienced Arizona criminal attorney who is a skilled litigator. They will know the most effective defenses to use, and building a foundation for your defense. Hiring a good criminal attorney who defends cases often in Tempe court will drastically increase your changes of getting your charges dismissed, reduced or the otherwise best possible outcome in your case.

August 20, 2010

Tempe Illegal DUI Stop ׀ Arizona DUI Laws

by James E. Novak, P.L.L.C.

How Tempe DUI Lawyers Get DUI Charges Dismissed
“If the Tempe DUI stop was found to be illegal, there is strong potential that your Tempe DUI charges can be dismissed.”

If your face Tempe DUI charges, you should consult an Arizona DUI Lawyer who defends DUI charges in Tempe on a regular basis. Many Good DUI Attorneys will provide you with a free consultation. During your consultation Your Tempe DUI Attorney will some important questions. One of the first questions a good AZ DUI attorney will ask you is “What was the alleged reason for the Tempe DUI stop? Although they may sound like irrelevant questions to you, they will be imperative in your defense, which could lead to a possible dismissal of your charges.

The United States Supreme Court has held that an officer must have a “reasonable suspicion” that a criminal offense or traffic offense has been committed or is in progress in order to stop a vehicle. (This excludes DUI Checkpoint Task Force which requires the police to stop cars in an advanced mathematical formula decided by City or County Officials or the Police Department Management).

If the officer did not have a reasonable suspicion, then the remedy can call for a dismissal of the DUI charges. An officer cannot legally stop a driver unless they can substantiate a specific and just cause to believe there has been a traffic infraction or other violation of law. For example weaving within one’s own traffic lane for a short distance or making a wide turn, is not generally unlawful and should not justification for a Police Officer to Stop you for suspicion of Drunk Driving in or Drug DUI in Tempe. These types of driving actions are commonly seen in unimpaired drivers.

If the Tempe DUI stop by the police was illegal then your Tempe DUI Attorney will go through the proper channels, argue the defense, and file the appropriate motions to have your DUI charges dismissed. Then it will be up to the judge or jury to decide if the stop was truly meritless. If the Tempe DUI stop was found to be illegal, there is strong potential that your DUI charges can be dismissed or any evidence after the stopped suppressed. In any event, it puts a wrench in the prosecution’s case against you.

To learn more about the many DUI Defenses that can be used to get your case dismissed, charges reduced, or evidence suppressed visit WWW.arizonacriminaldefenselawyer.com.
There you can download free “Arizona Winning DUI Defense Strategies” © books written by winning defense Attorney James Novak, which includes “101 AZ DUI Defenses” ©.

If you have been charged with any Tempe AZ DUI, Extreme DUI, Repeat Offense DUI, Under age 21 DUI, DUI wit child under 15 in vehicle, Aggravated Felony DUI, Drug, Felony Drug, Dangerous Drug, Narcotics, Marijuana, any Arizona DUI, Drug DUI, or any other criminal charge including theft, assaults, aggravated assault, domestic violence, drugs crimes, probation violations, robbery, computer crimes, ID theft crimes, or any other criminal charges contact the Law Office of James Novak, for your Free Consultation at (480) 413-1499. Speak directly with experienced Arizona criminal Defense and DUI Defense Attorney James Novak (Former Prosecutor). The Law Office of James Novak is devoted to handling 100% DUI, Drug & criminal cases in Tempe, Phoenix, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa, Gilbert, and surrounding areas valley-wide within Maricopa County Arizona.