Phoenix, AZ - As of early saturday morning the new Arizona DUI task force efforts that are scheduled to last through September 7, 2009 had netted 120 DUI arrests statewide.
Police agencies throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson are participating in the efforts, which include DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols.
Throughout the state they made 700 stops. Of the 120 DUI arrests, there were 12 felony DUIs and 115 misdemeanors. There were also 13 minors arrested.
"This time of year police agencies in Arizona pool their resources towards DUI enforcement," said Arizona DUI lawyer Stewart Bergman, whose practice in Scottsdale focuses on defending people accused of DUI throughout the greater Phoenix area. "It is not unusual to see a Gilbert Police Officer patrolling in Scottsdale, or a Scottsdale Officer working in Glendale or Phoenix."
While the pooling of police resources makes it easier for law enforcement to concentrate on any given area in the state, it can create logistical problems.
"After a large task force event, you might see a DUI case charged in Scottsdale Municipal Court because the arrest was made there. But then you have a Gilbert Police Officer who made the stop and took a blood sample. Gilbert sends their blood samples to the Chandler Crime Lab for analysis. So you end up with a prosecutor's office like Scottsdale using Chandler and Gilbert city witnesses in the prosecution."
The logistical difficulties of getting several law enforcement agencies to cooperate and coordinate during a DUI prosecution can provide an advantage to the defense, especially when the DUI defense attorney is on top of the situation and make appropriate and frequent requests for discovery. Because of the administrative slowdowns, there is often times more opportunity to get favorable deals.
"It is never worth it to drink and then drive in Arizona," says Bergman, "because we see cases getting charged where the person is well under the legal limit."
Under Arizona DUI Law, the police can charge a person with being impaired to the slightest degree even if the person is well under the legal limit of 0.08 percent body alcohol concentration. And prosecutors are capable of getting convictions for DUI when the persons alcohol level is as low as a 0.06, or 75 percent of the legal limit.
"Task force events are about more than pure public safety," explained Bergman. "They are about numbers, and between and within some police departments, they may even be about competition. Because of this, even if you know you are okay to drive but have had drinks, if you can find another way to get home it is a cheap insurance plan against getting a DUI."
A first offense Arizona DUI can carry up to a minimum of 45 days in jail, depending on the alcohol level, and comes with loss of driving privileges, ignition interlock devices and heavy fines.
Source
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
State Revs Up Labor Day DUI Task Force
PHOENIX -- This holiday weekend marks the final weekend of the two-week, statewide Arizona Labor Day DUI Task Force Campaign.
On Friday, some -- like Jessica Pearson -- sought to warn others of the dangers of driving under the influence.
Pearson was on the Memorial Union lawn at Arizona State University, telling the story of her brother, former Sun Devil Henry Pearson, and their good friend, former Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. Both went to ASU, and both were killed in April when a minivan driven by 22-year-old Andrew Thomas Gallo, of Riverside, crashed into their vehicle.
Three people were killed in the accident in total, and police said the Gallo had a blood-alcohol level of .19 at the time of the crash. He has since pleaded not guilty to suspicion of drunken
driving, hit and run and manslaughter.
This holiday weekend, police agencies from all over the state are participating in DUI enforcement activities and will use high-visibility saturation patrols and checkpoints, and officers will actively seek drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol. Lakes and recreational areas, as well as arterial roadways, will also be monitored.
Luckily for most residents, Triple A is again offering their "Tipsy Tow" service starting Sunday evening and running through Monday night. Residents need only call 1-800-AAA-HELP for a free ride and a tow safely home.
There is also a new way to get home if you've had too much to drink. The Designated Drivers' program launched in the Valley today, and they offer free rides home from area bars. Bars just have to call the drivers to arrange the transit.
The program has been very successful since it was started in Las Vegas 10 years ago.
Source
On Friday, some -- like Jessica Pearson -- sought to warn others of the dangers of driving under the influence.
Pearson was on the Memorial Union lawn at Arizona State University, telling the story of her brother, former Sun Devil Henry Pearson, and their good friend, former Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. Both went to ASU, and both were killed in April when a minivan driven by 22-year-old Andrew Thomas Gallo, of Riverside, crashed into their vehicle.
Three people were killed in the accident in total, and police said the Gallo had a blood-alcohol level of .19 at the time of the crash. He has since pleaded not guilty to suspicion of drunken
driving, hit and run and manslaughter.
This holiday weekend, police agencies from all over the state are participating in DUI enforcement activities and will use high-visibility saturation patrols and checkpoints, and officers will actively seek drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol. Lakes and recreational areas, as well as arterial roadways, will also be monitored.
Luckily for most residents, Triple A is again offering their "Tipsy Tow" service starting Sunday evening and running through Monday night. Residents need only call 1-800-AAA-HELP for a free ride and a tow safely home.
There is also a new way to get home if you've had too much to drink. The Designated Drivers' program launched in the Valley today, and they offer free rides home from area bars. Bars just have to call the drivers to arrange the transit.
The program has been very successful since it was started in Las Vegas 10 years ago.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
Phoenix DUI and assault charges after hit-and-run
Monday's hit-and-run accident in the Phoenix area has resulted in one arrest for DUI and aggravated assault.
The accident occurred around 6PM in the east Mesa area outside Phoenix when a car struck a bicyclist, whose name has not yet been released. By 9PM that same day, Benito Gil-Mendoza was arrested and charged.
The cyclist was airlifted to Scottsdale Healthcare at Osborn hospital for treatment of pelvic fractures, a broken arm and back and some bleeding on the brain. There has been no information released regarding his current status.
While Gil-Mendoza had fled the scene rather quickly, witnesses were able to identify his vehicle. A Public Safety officer noticed a vehicle matching the description and carried out a routine traffic stop. The officer immediately noticed the smell of alcohol and suspected DUI.
Gil-Mendoza submitted a breath test that revealed his blood alcohol level was about .2%. Gil-Mendoza will be charged with DUI and aggravated assault due to the bodily injury caused by the accident. It is unknown whether Gil-Mendoza will be charged with manslaughter or, in worst case, murder, if the cyclist does not recover from the accident. Even in absence of homicide charges he faces years in prison for the assault.
Source
The accident occurred around 6PM in the east Mesa area outside Phoenix when a car struck a bicyclist, whose name has not yet been released. By 9PM that same day, Benito Gil-Mendoza was arrested and charged.
The cyclist was airlifted to Scottsdale Healthcare at Osborn hospital for treatment of pelvic fractures, a broken arm and back and some bleeding on the brain. There has been no information released regarding his current status.
While Gil-Mendoza had fled the scene rather quickly, witnesses were able to identify his vehicle. A Public Safety officer noticed a vehicle matching the description and carried out a routine traffic stop. The officer immediately noticed the smell of alcohol and suspected DUI.
Gil-Mendoza submitted a breath test that revealed his blood alcohol level was about .2%. Gil-Mendoza will be charged with DUI and aggravated assault due to the bodily injury caused by the accident. It is unknown whether Gil-Mendoza will be charged with manslaughter or, in worst case, murder, if the cyclist does not recover from the accident. Even in absence of homicide charges he faces years in prison for the assault.
Source
Monday, June 8, 2009
Phoenix DUI and DWI Defense Lawyers
Are you in need of an experienced Phoenix DUI attorney or lawyer? Beauchamp Law Office is dedicated to assisting clients in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Gilbert, and surrounding Arizona cities that are facing a possible DUI (driving under the influence) conviction. Regardless of the type of DUI charges being faced, it is recommended that a Phoenix DUI defense attorney be hired to protect your rights. Beauchamp Law Office is a team of highly experienced and educated criminal defense attorneys prepared to aggressively defend your rights and your future.
At Beauchamp Law Office, our goal is to provide clients with the most effective legal resources and guidance needed to obtain successful results for any Phoenix DUI charge. Beauchamp Law Office understands how complex and confusing DUI cases can be and we hope our site will be used as a resource to help educate and provide the most up to date Arizona DUI laws and penalties enforced for a Phoenix DUI offense.
In Arizona, a driving under the influence charge will be based on several different factors and may sometimes result in facing multiple offenses in addition to a regular DUI charge. The specific circumstances around your DUI defense case can drastically affect the overall outcome of your individual case.
If convicted of a DUI in Arizona, you will be faced with a mandatory jail sentence and fines unless alternative sentencing is negotiated by your DUI defense attorney. A first offense DUI or higher mandates a minimum 1 year installation of an ignition interlock device into all driven vehicles. But such harsh penalties can often be avoided with an experienced DUI defense lawyer working to protect your rights!
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