DUI Defense Services in Glendale, AZ
A DUI Can Put Both Your Criminal Record and Driving Privilege at Issue
An Arizona DUI allegation can move on two tracks. One takes place in criminal court. The other may involve the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division and your driving privilege. The notices, evidence, and deadlines are not always the same, and a result in one proceeding does not automatically decide the other.
Richard D. Coffinger has practiced Arizona criminal law since 1972. He provides a careful, personal review of the stop, arrest, testing, reports, and notices so the client can understand what the State alleges and what options may be available.
What to Do After a DUI Arrest or Citation
First, read every document you received. Note the court, case or citation number, next appearance, and any MVD notice or temporary permit. Missing a date can create consequences separate from the underlying defense.
Second, preserve what you remember while it is fresh. The route, timing, statements, field-sobriety instructions, testing, medications, medical conditions, passengers, receipts, and other details may matter later. Do not post about the incident or ask witnesses to change what they remember.
Third, speak with a lawyer promptly. The exact hearing deadline depends on the notice and legal basis for the action. Arizona statutes contain specific time periods, and ADOT directs drivers to check the notice they received.
Two Proceedings May Be Moving at Once
The MVD or Driver-License Matter
An administrative suspension may arise from a test result or an alleged refusal. A timely hearing request can affect when an administrative action takes effect, but the applicable deadline and procedure must be read from the notice and governing statute. ADOT confirms that its administrative hearing is separate from the criminal case.
The Criminal DUI Case
The criminal case asks whether the prosecution can prove a violation of Arizona’s DUI laws. Depending on the allegation, the case may involve claimed impairment, alcohol concentration, drugs or metabolites, an extreme-DUI threshold, or circumstances that support an aggravated charge. The court process and potential consequences depend on the specific statute, prior history, facts, and case outcome.
DUI Matters Richard May Evaluate
The practice can be positioned to receive inquiries involving:
- Standard alcohol-related DUI allegations under A.R.S. § 28-1381.
- Extreme and super-extreme alcohol-concentration allegations under A.R.S. § 28-1382.
- Drug-related DUI allegations.
- Aggravated DUI allegations under A.R.S. § 28-1383.
- First and repeat allegations.
- DUI-related MVD suspension or refusal notices.
What Richard Reviews in a DUI Case
No single checklist decides every DUI case. Depending on what occurred, review may include:
- The legal basis for the stop or initial contact.
- Whether the person was driving or in “actual physical control” as alleged.
- Officer observations, reports, body-camera or dash-camera footage, and dispatch records.
- Instructions and performance on field-sobriety exercises.
- The type, timing, handling, and reported result of blood, breath, urine, or other testing.
- Whether the testing method and evaluation meet applicable requirements.
- Medical conditions, lawful prescriptions, timing, and other explanations supported by evidence.
- Statements, witness accounts, video, receipts, phone records, or location data that may be lawfully obtained and relevant.
- Prior history, license status, passengers, and other facts that may affect charge classification or consequences.
The presence of an issue does not automatically produce a dismissal or other result. The purpose of review is to determine which facts and legal questions are genuinely supported.
A Defense Strategy Should Follow the Evidence
After reviewing the available record, Richard explains the realistic paths. Depending on the case, that may include further investigation, legal motions, negotiation, trial preparation, or another response. A plea agreement is not treated as the automatic starting point, but neither is any client promised a trial outcome or dismissal.
What to Bring to the First Call
Have the following nearby if available:
- Citation, complaint, release order, and court notice.
- MVD order of suspension, refusal notice, or temporary permit.
- Test receipt or paperwork.
- Court name and next date.
- A list of prescriptions or relevant medical conditions.
- Names of possible witnesses and the location of any video.
Do not send confidential documents through an unsecured form. The callback form should request only basic contact and case-identification information.
Next Steps
Speak With an Experienced Arizona DUI Attorney
Waiting can narrow practical options, particularly when a notice contains a hearing or appearance date. Call Richard D. Coffinger for a free telephone consultation about the criminal allegation, the driver-license notice, and the next step.
What You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a DUI Charge Based Only on a BAC of .08 or Higher?
No. A.R.S. § 28-1381 includes several theories. Arizona law addresses being impaired to the slightest degree, an alcohol concentration of .08 or more within two hours in the circumstances described by the statute, certain drug or metabolite allegations, and lower alcohol thresholds for specified commercial and for-hire driving. The precise allegation must be read from the charging document.