I have already spent a lot of money in the course of my DUI trial but I was unlucky to still be convicted. How will my DUI conviction here in Arizona affect my auto insurance rate?

Kaleb

Peoria, AZ

Having a DUI in Peoria, Arizona could be a challenging experience for you. As you may understand, your DUI could mean that you would have to pay for it long after you have been sentenced. As a matter of fact, DUI affects your auto insurance and that’s because your driving record would show that you have a DUI conviction. If you will buy auto insurance from a certain provider, it normally asks and reviews your driving record and they will find out about your DUI. If you are renewing your insurance policy, the insurance company will also review your driving record so that they can determine your insurance rate.

Your DUI conviction can affect the rate of your insurance because insurance providers could consider you a higher risk driver. Points will often be added to your driving record due to your DUI and if the insurance providers review your history, they could charge you more if you have more points than the average motorist. Some auto insurance providers could not even give you coverage because of your DUI. Check for quotes from this website to get auto insurance after your DUI.

Why does my sister have to get  SR22 auto insurance coverage? If it is because of her DUI, what happens if she fails to secure SR22 auto insurance?

Carey

Yuma, AZ

The SR22 is actually not a kind of insurance, but instead, it is a proof that a person has certain kinds of insurance based upon the financial responsibility laws in Arizona. To put it simple, it’s a form that should be filed by the auto insurance company to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and this states that the person has an auto liability insurance. Normally, this is a requirement if an insurance is given to a person who got into an accident or was convicted for a traffic violation such as DUI and cannot show financial responsibility or in some states, if a judge has mandated an SR22 for some other reasons.

In your sister’s case, she is required to get an SR22 if she has a DUI conviction in Yuma, Arizona. She needs to file the SR22 to complete the requirements of reinstating her driver’s license. If she fails to secure an SR22, she can’t have her driving privileges back and her driver’s license will be suspended again. Since she needs to file for an SR22, I suggest for her to get a free auto insurance quote from this website.

Following a DUI conviction, how can I get myself insured? I’m planning to just do it online so please tell me how to get a comparison DUI friendly car insurance rate quote through the web.

Darion

Tempe, AZ

Buying car insurance online would save yourself time and money, but let me tell you now that after your DUI conviction in Tempe, you’ll have a hard time getting yourself insured, and if you do, the rates are gonna be different. First of all, you have to make a list of your information, with info about your car. You can have this in front of you while you’re looking for car insurance companies. You have to have with you your driver’s license number, driving history (dates of any recent accidents, including your DUI conviction) and personal information like address and social. You also need your vehicle make and model, license plate number, vehicle identification number (VIN), accident history and mileage.

You can find online car insurance companies by typing “car insurance” into the search engine such as Google. A lot of car insurance companies would come up in searches but you can stick with the companies you’ve heard of and can ask your friends and family about. But if you don’t want to bother searching car insurance companies for your coverage, you can just try the options available from this website for your car insurance needs.

Is it true that my brother’s car insurance premiums could triple after his DUI conviction?

Mara

Arivaca, AZ

It would be possible that because your brother is convicted for DUI in Arivaca, Arizona, his auto insurance premiums could double, and in some instances, even triple. If he goes to his auto insurance company to get an SR22 form, his auto insurance provider would consider him as a “high-risk” driver and increase his insurance premiums. This is especially true if he was previously in a “preferred class” or received safe-driver discounts.

You probably know that your brother’s driving privileges are suspended for at least 30 days to one year because of his DUI conviction. Once he gets his driver’s license and privileges back, he would have to provide the licensing agency with an SR22 form, which proves that he has motor vehicle liability insurance. Under the SR22 laws, the insurance company is required to notify the licensing agency, which is the Department of Motor Vehicles, if the policy is canceled, terminated or lapses for any reason. He might be looking for an SR22 auto insurance provider right now and he can definitely get an online rate quote available from this website.

I heard that my sister was charged with two separate cases when she was arrested for DUI here in Arizona. Wouldn’t that gonna be double jeopardy? What are these cases that were charged against her?

Zaid

Casas Adobes, AZ

If your sister was arrested for DUI in Casas Adobes, Arizona for the first time, there would actually be two separate and distinct cases against her. The state of Arizona has two shots of taking her driver’s license after a DUI arrest because one suspension flows from a criminal conviction while the other is with regard to her “privilege” to drive. Since double jeopardy actually only applies to criminal cases and one case is civil in nature, the state has two chances to remove your sister from Arizona’s highways.

Arizona law states that any person who drives a motor vehicle in Arizona gives consent to a test or tests of their blood, breath, urine or other bodily substances as part of exercising the “privilege” to drive in Arizona. Through this law, police officers can determine alcohol concentration or drug content if the person is arrested for DUI. By driving in the state of Arizona, in essence, your sister has already consented to the test.

Clearly, a DUI case took its toll on me. I was charged with drunk driving. I have so many questions regarding my case. First, will I be charged to speak to a lawyer about my DUI case? How is the DMV license suspension or revocation different from the suspension or revocation if I will be convicted? I also wonder, how long will it take to settle my DUI case?

Matthew

Gilbert, AZ

Most law firms offer free initial consultation so you will not be charged to speak to a lawyer about your DUI case in Gilbert, Arizona. Also, there is no obligation for obtaining a professional evaluation of your DUI case.

Regarding the length of time your DUI case is gonna be settled, it actually varies depending on many factors. This would include whether this is a first or multiple offense, whether your case is a misdemeanor or a felony, if it involves enhancements and negotiated or taken to trial. Normally, most DUI cases span a minimum of several months.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revocation or suspension is an administrative action taken against your driving privilege only. The revocation or suspension after a conviction is a mandatory action for which fine, jail, or other criminal penalty can be imposed.

I have a DUI conviction here in Glendale, Arizona and I was required to get SR22 auto insurance. Is this another insurance policy and how will this be different from my auto insurance?

Louie

Glendale, AZ

SR22 auto insurance is not an insurance policy. It is simply a proof of insurance required by the state of Arizona for those who have had serious motor vehicle citations. In your case, you are required to file for SR22 auto insurance because of your DUI conviction in Glendale, Arizona. SR22 is just a piece of paper stating your financial responsibility, or certified proof of insurance.

In the state of Arizona, SR22 is available to those who need it by purchasing a policy with the minimum amount of liability coverage. It is exactly the same coverage as a policy without SR22 insurance. The only difference is that when your insurance company issues the SR22, it immediately contacts the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) whenever you cancel your policy or remove a vehicle from that policy. Essentially, the SR22 insurance allows the DMV to keep tabs on your insurance status in order to protect other motorists from potentially harmful drivers.

I have been convicted for DUI here in Arizona back in 1999. My record has been cleared since 2006. How come my DUI conviction was back to my driving history again? What would be the possible effects of this on me?

Bruce

Yuma, AZ

If your DUI record in Arizona has been cleared since 2006, as annoying as it may seem but, the new law in Arizona states that a DUI conviction will stay on your driving record for 10 years. In your case, you had your DUI in 1999 and had it removed from your record in 2006. Because of the new law, your DUI conviction would actually stay on your driving record until 2009.

The possible effect of this law would be on getting driver discount. I believe that you had since received a good driver discount when you had your record cleared in 2006. But since your DUI is now back on your driving history, you may not qualify for a good driver discount again until 2009. Another aspect that would be affected is your auto insurance. If your insurance company did not know about your DUI conviction, they might find it out sooner or later when they check your driving record. If the insurance company finds out about it, your premium rates would likely go up if they don’t drop you. But most of the major auto car insurance companies would not offer auto insurance to those who have been convicted of driving under the influence. If that happens, you would have to find another insurance company that will give you coverage.

I was browsing the internet to find some important facts about Arizona DUI laws because I have a friend who has been charged with DUI and I want to help him. I came across a website wherein you can see names and mug shots of Arizona DUI offenders. What seems to be the purpose of this kind of website and how do they acquire all the information?

Sylvia

Glendale, AZ

I have also seen that particular website which shows names, mug shots and blood alcohol content (BAC) levels of people who have been convicted for DUI in Maricopa County, Arizona. For some people, this will cause others not drive after drinking out of a fear of such shame. According to the creator of this website, the shame that people would feel from this website is a by-product and not the intent of the campaign.

They acquire the information through the municipal courts from the cities in Maricopa County, Arizona which forward information from DUI convictions to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. They described the said program as a new means of tackling DUI and encourage better behavior.

The website has also raised concerns and received criticisms. A certain group questioned if shaming will lead to a better behavior as a person who may be drunk and ready to drive, and may not be in the right frame of mind to think about right versus wrong. They say that the website will not make the roads safer.

Hi. My father has been convicted for DUI three years ago here in Tucson Arizona. I want to know more about DUI facts in Arizona so that I would be more knowledgeable about it. How does a DUI charge considered a felony?

Kaye

Tucson, AZ

Thanks for asking, Kaye.

DUI charge is a very serious criminal offense. Arizona DUI law has a reputation as among the nation’s toughest. The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) is .08%. A BAC of .15% or higher results in additional charges.

It will be considered a felony if the suspect has two or more prior DUI convictions in Arizona or in another state within seven years of the arrest. The suspect’s privileges to drive are revoked, suspended or restricted at the time he/she is charged with DUI in Arizona. It will also be considered a felony if there is a child under 15 years old the vehicle.