Although the nationwide trend has seen a decrease in DUI fatalities, Arizona's statistics have seen their peaks and valleys over the years, perhaps due to their ever-increasing population. In 2006, the alcohol-related fatalities was 502, 39% percent of all the fatalities, which was up from the previous 19 years. Even though DUI is classified as when the blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08% in Arizona, which is the same as the rest of the nation, the penalties and fines for an Arizona DUI were strengthened in 2008.

A DUI in Arizona is classified as driving under the influence of any combination of alcohol, drugs or vapor-releasing substance if the person becomes impaired to even the slightest degree, and/or has a BAC of .08% or more within two hours of driving. The dui law applies to all types of influences, including alcohol and drugs - even sleep aid drugs. If you are driving a commercial vehicle, you will be convicted if your BAC is at least .04%. And, if you are under the age of 21, any alcohol level will bring you a dui arrest. Only one drink (a 12-ounce beer, a 3 or 4-ounce glass of wine, or one ounce of 80-proof liquor) will produce a BAC of .08%. It only takes 45 minutes for your BAC to reach .08%, but twice as long for the alcohol to disperse.

An Arizona DUI is considered a misdemeanor criminal conviction. However, they become felonies if the accused has two or more prior DUIs within five years of an offense (even if it's from another state), if the accused had a DUI while their license was suspended or revoked, or if a child under 15 years of age was in the car at the time of the offense. In addition, any person driving in Arizona gives implied consent to a dui test of blood or breath to check for alcohol content. If the accused refuses, their driver's license will be suspended for a period of one year if it's a first offense, or two years if it's a second offense and within five years of a prior DUI. If you fail a dui test in Arizona, you will immediately surrender your driver's license to the arresting officer.

The dui charges for a first offense are fines of $1,460, a minimum jail sentence of from one to ten days, a driver's license suspension of from 90 to 360 days, and the possible installation (at your expense) of an ignition interlock device (IID), which means your car will not start until you blow into a device that determines if you've been drinking. The second offense includes fines of $3,410, jail time of from 30 to 90 days, community restitution of at least 30 days, a license suspension of one year, a court-ordered installation of an IID, alcohol or drug screening, and mandatory participation in an education or treatment program. The third offense is categorized as an aggravated DUI if it occurs within 84 months (seven years) of a previous DUI, and is considered a felony. It entails fines of $4,610, a jail sentence for a minimum of four months, a license suspension of one year, a court-ordered IID, alcohol or drug screening, and enrollment in an education or treatment program.

In Arizona there is an extreme DUI categoy if your BAC is at least .15% within two hours of driving. Your first extreme DUI conviction includes fines of $2,400, license revocation of one year, and the installation of an IID at your expense. Your second extreme DUI conviction, if occurring within five years of the first, includes fines of $1,700, a license suspension of from 90 days to one year, and installation of an IID in all of your vehicles. There is also a super extreme category if your BAC is .20% or higher, which includes a minimum of 45 days in jail and even higher fines.