Arizona DUI Vs. DWI
Nationally, the difference between a DUI and a DWI can vary from state to state, with a DUI , or driving under the influence, arrest meaning a less harsh offense than a DWI, or a driving while intoxicated arrest. Further, some states only differentiate between DUI and DWI as drug-related (DUI) or alcohol-related (DWI) driving arrests. In Arizona, the terms DWI and DUI are interchangeable; both charges can bring serious and life-changing penalties.
Other People Are Reading
-
DUI and DWI Defined
-
In Arizona, DUI and DWI both refer to a driver who is mentally or physically impaired by a substance while operating a vehicle. Regardless of the term DUI or DWI in the arrest report, drivers can be arrested for being influenced by substances such as drugs, alcohol or vapor-releasing substances. Medications, such as prescription drugs, are also considered capable of impairing a driver's ability to operate a vehicle, and can result in a DWI or DUI arrest.
Blood Alcohol Concentration
-
Arizona's DUI and DWI laws on blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, list a .08 percent BAC for personal vehicle drivers and a .04 percent BAC for those driving commercial vehicles, such as bus drivers. The Zero Tolerance Law in Arizona states that minors, or persons under 21, caught driving with any amount of alcohol in their system will have a license suspension of up to two years, as well as possible jail time and fines.
-
Penalties
-
In Arizona, the penalty for a DUI or DWI first-offense is a minimum of 10 days in jail and $250 in fines, with the possibility of community service and substance abuse counseling or education. A first time offender will lose his license for 90 days, as well as be given an ignition lock. Repeat offenders can lose their licenses for up to a year, spend a minimum of three months in jail, and can pay $500 or more in fines. If BAC is higher than .15, stricter penalties can occur, whether or not this is the driver's first DWI or DUI offense.
Arizona Vs. the Nation
-
Whether it is called DUI or DWI at the time of the offense, Arizona is one of only 13 states in the nation to require first-time offenders to use ignition interlocks, which prohibit a driver from operating a car if the driver's BAC is over the legal limit of .08 percent. Unlike Arizona, a majority of states only require ignition interlocks for repeat offenders or offenders with higher than .15 BACs. In Arizona, a first time DWI or DUI offender will get his license suspended for 90 days, compared to as low as two days in the District of Columbia, and seven days in Virginia.
Statistics
-
Due to Arizona's tough DUI and DWI penalties, the state Department of Transportation reported only 6,757 alcohol-related crashes in 2008, or less than six percent of all crashes in the state. While the percentage of crashes in the state has remained at six percent since 2004, the number of alcohol-related crashes has dropped every year, starting at 8,352 in 2004 and ending with 6,757 in 2008.
-
References
- Photo Credit Arizona, America image by Serenitie from Fotolia.com
