What to Expect with DUI Legal Proceedings
Reader’s Question:
I took the blood alcohol test when I was arrested for DUI and unfortunately, I was over the legal limit. What can I expect to face now in terms of legal proceedings?
Kianna
Coconino, AZ
Upon being arrested for DUI after you had blood alcohol content (BAC) that was beyond the legal limit, you could expect to be involved in two separate legal proceedings which are the criminal proceeding in court and the civil proceeding with the Department of Motor Vehicles (MVD) and the likely suspension of your driver license. These proceedings are mutually exclusive and the outcome would not affect the other. Also, you could either win or lose both proceedings.
The criminal proceeding involves entering a plea or a verdict of guilty following a jury or bench trial and could result in mandatory jail time, fees and assessments, fines, supervised or unsupervised probation and a criminal record. On the other hand, the civil proceeding is conducted by an administrative hearing officer at the MVD. These proceeding involves the possible suspension of your driver’s license, or if from out of state, your driving privilege in Arizona. Since your BAC was over the legal limit, you are facing a 90-day driver’s license suspension and must request for a hearing with the MVD to save your license.
What to Expect with DUI Legal Proceedings
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