You may not realize it, but most Arizona DUIs are first offenses. This crime means you will enjoy a minimum 24 hours in jail; the mandatory sentence could be up to ten days. Even if a Sanctuary Bail Bonds bonding agent (bail bonds Phoenix) secures your release within a few hours, fortunately most people will have enough time credited to cover the absolute minimum time served. However, if the judge gives you more than a day, you might have to serve more time behind bars.
The minimum jail sentence for a second DUI is thirty days. For a third or subsequent DUI, there is a 120 day jail minimum.
Keep in mind that additional jail time could apply, this is because DUI is a misdemeanor. But most people usually receive probation if they are convicted.
If avoiding additional jail time is important, and it normally is, it’s also important to work with your Sanctuary Bail Bonds professional (bail bond near me). Their fast and easy bonding services are available throughout Arizona. A bondsman does more than get you out of jail and get your defense off to a good start.
A bondsman is also a good resource person. Most people have lots of questions about the Maricopa County criminal justice system, especially if it is their first DUI. Because each county jail or detention facility may have slightly different procedures for bonding out, it is best to contact Sanctuary Bail Bonds and let them guide you through the process.
What Happens for Your First DUI Offense?
If you are convicted of DUI, you can expect harsh punishments. Some of them are direct, and some are indirect.
Court supervision and drivers’ license suspension are probably the harshest direct punishment. DUI probation normally lasts at least a year. During those twelve months, defendants must jump through a number of hoops. Typical probation conditions include in-person reporting to a probation officer, fines, DUI education classes, an alcohol evaluation, and community service requirements.
Furthermore, the state will suspend your drivers’ license for between three months and one year. A limited hardship license may be available for these first offense DUI charges.
Indirect consequences include higher auto insurance rates and the stigma of a criminal record. Drivers who are convicted of DUI must obtain high-risk SR-22 insurance and keep it for at least three years. SR-22 rates may be three times higher than that of normal auto insurance rates.
Additionally, although the stigma is not as bad as it was in the 1990s, DUI is still a very big black mark on your permanent record. It’s difficult, but not impossible, to erase this mark. But it usually takes a lot of effort, determination, and a chunk of money for legal representation.
What to Expect in a DUI Case
Most criminal cases settle out of court. These agreed plea bargains usually include a lighter punishment, and sometimes, lesser charges. As mentioned, if your 24-hour bail bondsman secures pretrial release, these agreements are easier to make. This is because the court seems to look more favorable upon a defendant who is free on bond that a jail bird that is brought from jail to the courtroom. Even though this prejudice is not supposed to exist…it seems to.
If the case goes to trial, the conviction rate is usually higher in chemical test cases. If the defendant did not provide a chemical sample, prosecutors must use circumstantial evidence. That’s mostly the walking-a-straight-line test and the other field sobriety tests.
Sanctuary Bail Bonds is the premier 24 hour bonding company in Phoenix and throughout the state of Arizona. Their award winning bonding services are available everyday of the year for a DUI arrest. When you call us at (602) 224-5247 / (602) BAIL-247 we will prepare all of the necessary forms for you to complete and get you out of jail quickly and easily. If you have more questions about how bail bonds work, click here.
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