| "Driving Under the Influence" or drunk driving is a | | | | In Arizona, DUI arrests are considered a misdemeanor |
| punishable offence. The driver is arrested by police | | | | if a person is accused two or more times in the span |
| officers and taken into custody. It is not necessary to | | | | of five years prior to the current offence. However, a |
| handcuff or restrict the physical movements of the | | | | far more serious note is taken if the offence is during |
| suspect. An arrest can be executed by merely | | | | the suspension or cancellation of the driving rights or if |
| informing the suspect of the process. | | | | a child below the age of fifteen is in the car. |
| The police officer makes the decision to arrest the | | | | Punishments depend on the seriousness of charges |
| suspect based on certain facts and evidence indicating | | | | and the defendant's criminal record. The amount |
| the individual's involvement in the crime. The DUI | | | | payable as a fine depends on the number of crimes |
| arrests in Arizona can be affected based on two | | | | recorded against the individual and the percentage of |
| identified causes: an impaired driving ability as a result | | | | alcohol detected in the person. In the first instance of |
| of intoxication due to the consumption of alcohol or | | | | DUI (below or above 0.15% BAL), a fine of $250.00 is |
| drugs, or a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or more. | | | | imposed and subsequently (when BAL is above |
| Charges are serious if the blood alcohol level is | | | | 0.15%), it is increased to $500.00. A third-time offense |
| detected to be more than 0.15%. If the driving ability is | | | | within five years fetches $1,000 to $10,000 as fine. |
| found to be impaired due to the influence of a drug, it | | | | There are ways to decrease the charges; however |
| results in conviction irrespective of the fact that it is a | | | | the best way to avoid them is to simply not mix drinks |
| legally recommended medication. | | | | with driving. |