A previously vetoed DUI laws enhancement is being re-written to avoid the problems that caused Gov. Napolitano to reject it. The new version in the Senate maintains the 1 year requirement for an ignition interlock device for DUI convictions. The vetoed version would have rolled back that time to only 6 months.

The current law requiring the 1 year interlock (a Breathalyzer device that prevents your car from starting if you have consumed alcohol) has only been in effect for less than a year. The governor thought it was too soon to consider a reduction, since we haven’t seen the effects of the strict new law. A 1 year mandate for a ignition interlock device after any first offense convictions places Arizona’s DUI laws as among the strictest in the nation.

Other changes to this new revision include identical penalties for drunken boating as drunken driving, and some technical legal issues.

A vote by the full Arizona Senate is expected next week.

Police in Scottsdale, AZ are now using automatic license plate reader (ALRP) to scan all cars on the road within visual scanner range of a police car. What this means is that, if you are driving a stolen car, or of there are any known issues relating to the car or driver, such as a suspended license, or outstanding warrant, the police will be instantly alerted by the automated license plate scanner.

photo credit: elphotographo
For many people, the routine scanning and tracking of vehicles is very “big brother”, and brings up civil liberties issues, but courts have had no problems in affirming the rights of the police to do this.

The bottom line, is that you just can’t expect to get away with driving while your license is under suspension or if you have any kind of old warrant for failure to appear in court. Even legal issues that are decades old can suddenly show up on computer records that are shared with police and law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Please contact our Arizona law offices to help you get out from under any outstanding warrant, failure to appear in court, or related criminal legal problem, before it is too late. If you are pulled over and arrested, you will lose the leverage you may have in dealing with a problem pro actively, and negotiating a good outcome.