In the hot summer months, Arizona’s DUI numbers tend to increase. A DUI is an incident in which a driver is caught for driving under the influence. This summer is proving to be no different, as the rate of DUIs did increase as summer went into full swing. To combat this, Arizona law enforcement is increasing in the state, with stricter DUI enforcement on the roads. A local law group, The Valley Law Group, advises residents across the state to stay alert and make careful driving decisions.
What causes the increase in DUIs?
During summer, more people tend to socially drink. This tends to be at parties and other summer gatherings. This on its own increases the likelihood of driving under the influence. However, DUIs are even more common in summer as well due to the heat. The extreme Arizona heat increases dehydration, which increases drunkenness. Dehydration combined with drunkenness makes it more likely that a driver will make poor decisions and ultimately get behind the wheel while they are intoxicated.
Furthermore, there is another increased risk that comes in summer.
There are more tourists in the state in the summer months. This means there are more people operating on the road that are unfamiliar with the area. This fact combined with an increase of drunk drivers causes road conditions to be at their least safe point.
Data and records support the concern of an increase in DUI cases.
The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety published records that showed that 335 DUI arrests were done over the Fourth of July weekend in 2024. This was actually a low number compared to the previous year’s, which showed 399 arrests were done.
What are the state specific laws related to DUIs?
Many laws relate to drunk driving in Arizona. Some laws state that certain forms of drunk driving qualify as misdemeanors while others qualify as felonies. For example, you may be charged with a misdemeanor if you:
- Are under 21 and driving with any alcohol in your system.
- Are impaired at all while driving due to alcohol, any drug, or any sort of state of mind affecting substance.
- Have a blood alcohol level of 0.08 while driving.
There are many other instances in which driving under the influence could result in a misdemeanor charge.
Just as there are cases for misdemeanors, there are times when you may be charged with a felony for a DUI. Some of those instances are:
- Driving under the influence while having a suspended or revoked driver’s license.
- Commit a third misdemeanor charge of DUI driving within an 84 month period.
- Drive under the influence under the age of fifteen.
Avoid misdemeanor and felony charges and drive responsibly!