Misdemeanor Sentencing Chart

Answer: DUI is punished harshly in Arizona to deter unsafe driving practices, and convictions can result in fines over $1,000 and mandatory jail time, even for first offenders. Other penalties include a driver’s license suspension, probation, community service, substance abuse treatment, and the requirement to use an ignition interlock device.

Answer: There are three grades of misdemeanors in Arizona, from least to most serious: Class 3, Class 2, and Class 1. All three classes carry the potential for jail time and anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars in fines.

Answer: A Class 3 misdemeanor covers lesser offenses such as speeding, loitering, or abandoning the scene of a car accident with a parked car. A charge could be escalated to a Class 2 misdemeanor when other people are placed at risk of serious harm, with offenses including reckless driving, fleeing the scene of a car accident, possession of a controlled substance, or contempt of court. A Class 1 misdemeanor is a step below a felony in severity, and it may include violations such as assault resulting in injury, street racing, resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license, and shoplifting of merchandise totaling less than $1,000 in value.

Answer: A Class 1 misdemeanor comes with the possibility of six months of jail time and $2,500 in fines before surcharges and assessments.

Answer: Misdemeanor DUIs in Arizona are typically charged as Class 1 offenses. The sentence for a DUI conviction can vary depending on your blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of the incident. If a breathalyzer or blood test showed that you were above the legal limit of .08% but below .14%, you will face regular DUI charges. You may be charged with extreme DUI if your BAC was found to be between .15% and .19%. At a BAC of .20% or more, you can be charged with super extreme DUI.

Answer: All DUI charges in Arizona come with minimum fines as well as surcharges and assessments. Fines and miscellaneous fees for a regular DUI charge could total around $2,000. For Extreme DUI, you can expect to pay more than $2,700, and fines for Super Extreme DUI will be above $3,200.

Answer: Yes. A DUI conviction in Arizona comes with minimum jail time, even for first offenses. A regular DUI charge carries a minimum of 10 days in jail, although nine days can be suspended. Extreme DUI carries a 30-day minimum jail sentence. Super Extreme DUI carries anywhere from 45 days to six months in jail.

Answer: Your BAC is usually the biggest determinant in an Arizona DUI sentence. However, you could face felony charges for DUI if you are caught driving with a license that was suspended because of a DUI conviction, driving with a minor passenger under the age of 15, or for a third DUI conviction within a seven-year period.

Answer: A regular, first-time DUI charge in Arizona is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a minimum of 10 days in jail and fines as high as $2,500. In addition, your license will be suspended for 90 days. Depending on the circumstances, you might have to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle.

Answer: Probation is an alternative sentence to jail time for a misdemeanor conviction. It is a kind of release that holds you to certain terms that, if not obeyed, could result in you being incarcerated or your probation being extended. These terms could include community service, drug testing, a curfew, or prohibitions against drinking or using drugs. If these terms are violated, you could be summoned to court to appear in a probation hearing and present your defense. The prosecution does not have to prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt, only that it was likely that you violated the terms of your probation.