Valentine’s Day is beloved by some and dreaded by others. If you don’t have a significant other, you might feel saddened by the holiday and watching people celebrate it. Be mindful that broken hearts, alcohol, and drugs can make for a dangerous situation. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law in a Valentine’s Day DUI, contact the Arizona DUI lawyers in Tucson at Lerner & Rowe Law Group.
Drowning Your Sorrows Doesn’t Mean Getting a Valentine’s Day DUI
You may feel more inclined to drink when you feel sad or depressed. If you’ve recently had a breakup, or if you’ve been single for some time, you might turn to alcohol or drugs to numb that loneliness. As a result, an uptick in automobile collisions is often the case. Valentine’s Day ranks third after New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday for highest average blood alcohol content (BAC) levels.
Even though Arizona is a zero-tolerance state for DUI, drinking and driving remains a tragic problem. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation 2018 Motor Vehicle Crash Report:
- 4,651 car accidents happened due to drinking alcohol
- 2,951 alcohol-related traffic injuries occurred
- 261 people died in an alcohol-related crash
- More than 26% of all fatal crashes were alcohol-related
- Alcohol-related crashes lead to more than $3-billion in economic loss
While dealing with heartache can feel unbearable, don’t let it lead to a Valentine’s Day DUI. An alternative would be to chat with some close friends or attend a party full of single people. Or, attend an anti-love event at a local venue to protest and poke fun at the commercial aspects of Valentine’s Day.
Consequences of a Tucson DUI Conviction
In Arizona, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving is 0.08%, but higher BAC levels can lead to more serious consequences. Having a BAC of 0.15% will be charged as an extreme DUI, and having a 0.20% BAC can be charged as a super extreme DUI. However, Arizona is a zero-tolerance state meaning that police can arrest you if you’re “impaired to the slightest degree.”
A DUI can be charged as a felony in certain aggravated circumstances. It is a class 6 felony if its proven the person committed a DUI with a passenger younger than 15 in the vehicle. A DUI is a class 4 felony if its proven the driver committed a DUI and any of the following apply: the driver had a suspended, revoked, or restricted driver’s license; the driver was ordered to have an ignition interlock device in the vehicle, if the person was driving the wrong way on a highway, or if it is a third DUI committed in an 84 month period.
What to Do If You’re Pulled over for Suspicion of a DUI?
Follow these suggestions if you ever do get pulled over for suspicion of a DUI:
- Be polite during the encounter
- Provide driver’s license proof of insurance, and registration if requested
- Immediately ask for an Attorney
- Advise the police you will not answer any questions without an attorney present
- Do not participate in field sobriety tests
Then, hire a skilled DUI lawyer in Tucson. Doing so is the best chance you’ll have at beating or having a charge reduced of often complex DUI cases.
Contact Tucson Criminal Defense Lawyers If the Worst Happens
If you do make the decision to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and get caught, you may face DUI charges. Checkpoints will likely be in effect on Valentine’s Day. If you are pulled over, cooperate with law enforcement. You don’t want to be accused of other crimes like assault as well.
A Valentine’s Day DUI charge can affect your life in many ways. It is important that you have experienced Tucson criminal defense lawyers in Arizona on your side. Plus, at Lerner and Rowe Law Group you will be treated with compassion and understanding, without unfair judgement.
We understand how expensive a DUI charge can be, and we offer free consultations and affordable payment plans. Our offices are open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, but we are available 24/7 to take your call to 602-667-7777. Don’t try to handle your legal problems alone. Instead, contact us today.