Interesting article written by Alia Beard Rau and featured on www.azcentral.com discusses how the legislature will be considered two bills that will reduce the overall penalty of a first time DUI.

You can read the article at: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/02/10/20110210arizona-dui-bills-first-time-offenders-penalty.html

While passage of either bill would greatly ease the burdens of people convicted of a first time DUI, it does not give a free pass for a DUI conviction, nor do the bills proposed plan on limiting the language of the A.R.S  28-1381 or A.R.S. 28-1382.  Rather the bills look at reducing or making more lenient the penalties associated with a DUI conviction.

The first bill discussed is an attempt at ensuring that the other bill will not be passed.  The first bill, sponsored by Linda Gray, calls for a reduction in time that a person convicted of a DUI would be required to have an ignition interlock devised placed from 1 year to 6 months.  This would be a substantial reduction of the overall fees associated with a DUI conviction.  Currently, it costs roughly $120.00 to install the interlock device and $80.00 a month to pay for the monthly fee for the interlock device.  Reducing the requirement from 1 year to 6 months is thought to achieve the goal of reducing DUI related fatalities and teaching the person convicted of a DUI a lesson for their acts, while also cutting the overall cost almost in half.  The bill’s sponsor believe that this reduction will strike a balance between public safety and cost and I agree.

David Brunell Smith, the other bill’s sponsor, argues that an interlock device is financially unfair to first time DUI offenders.  He has proposed other bills based on financial reasons as well – one to create a house arrest system and one to ease the burdens of work release so that first time offenders do not suffer additional consequences (such as losing their job because of their inability to make their work schedule).

Arizona has some of the toughest law in the nation when it comes to DUI offenses.  If you’re charged with a DUI, it is always a good idea to consult with a DUI attorney to discuss your case.  Call Arizona DUI defense attorney Simon P. Kennedy for a free consultation regarding your DUI charge.  I always provide a free initial consultation to discuss your DUI case.