A Phoenix Sun’s player was recently arrested in Arizona for “super extreme DUI.” At the time of the arrest, his blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) registered at .201 on a preliminary breath test that was administered in the field. This is significantly above the .08 percent blood-alcohol concentration that renders someone intoxicated in the eyes of the law.

Drunk driving is always dangerous, but the more someone has to drink, the greater the risk to himself and to other motorists. If you or a loved one is the victim of an intoxicated driving accident, it is important to understand your legal options for obtaining monetary compensation. A personal injury lawyer can help you to pursue a claim for damages from the drunk driver.

Arizona’s “Super Extreme DUI”

According to AZ Central, the Phoenix Sun’s player actually had an even higher blood alcohol content on a test performed after he went to jail. The report of his BAC analyzed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety showed that his BAC was .222.

In Arizona, a BAC of .20 or higher is considered to be a “super extreme DUI.” Arizona is one of a few states in the entire country that has this designation. It is still a misdemeanor crime but the penalties are much more serious than for other drunk driving offenses. For example:

  • A person who has a Super Extreme DUI will need to have an ignition interlock device on his vehicle for a minimum period of 18 months after his license suspension is over. For most first-time offenders in Arizona who have a standard DUI conviction, an ignition interlock device is required only for one year.
  • A person convicted of a Super Extreme DUI will face a minimum jail term of 45 days. With a regular DUI conviction, the minimum jail term is just one day. For an extreme DUI conviction, which is defined as a BAC of .15 to .20, the minimum jail term is 30 days.
  • A person convicted of a Super Extreme DUI may be less able to plea bargain the offense down to reduce penalties, as compared with a standard drunk driving offense. Prosecutors tend to take a harder stance on people who are so intoxicated that they classify as having a Super Extreme DUI.

The Washington Post took a close look at the Super Extreme DUI designation after the arrest of the Phoenix Sun player. The law was added to the books in the state in 2007 because the more intoxicated someone is, the less capable they are at driving and the more of a menace they are to other motorists.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that a person’s ability to drive is actually affected with a blood alcohol content of just .02 percent. At this stage, the motorist is less able to multitask and to keep an eye on moving objects. Coordination starts to suffer with a BAC of .05 percent and by the time a person hits the legal limit, he is struggling with perception, speed control and concentration. Clearly, then, a person with a BAC of .20 or higher is so far over the limit that there is no possibility he could ever be safe on the roads.

Contact a Phoenix accident attorney at Israel & Gerity after your accident. Call 888-900-3667 or visit https://www.ig-law.com to schedule your free consultation.