15 Facts About Drinking and Driving In Northwest Phoenix, Arizona

(7/18) Having a swell time and drinking with friends offers much-needed rest and relaxation. But make sure you don't drive after your wild night, especially if you live in Northwest Phoenix, Arizona. You'll find yourself in a pickle if you get caught. The state has a zero-tolerance stance on DUIs, and for a good reason.

Let's check out 15 facts about driving under the influence in NW Phoenix.

1. Each DUI charge comes with heavy financial consequences that can sum up to $10,000 per person on average. It includes legal fees for a NW Phoenix DUI Lawyer, state fines, and the obvious spike in your insurance rates.
    
2. A large number of those arrested for DUIs are repeat offenders. Specifically, one-third of all those who get arrested for DUIs daily have been arrested at least one other time prior.
    
3. The legal alcohol limit in the state is 0.08%, which you can reach quicker than you think. For example, a man who weighs 170 to 180 pounds will cross the legal limit after about three bottles of beer. An average woman can cross the limit with one to three bottles.
    
4. Phoenix is struggling to control DUIs within its borders. There was a 5% increase in the number of arrests in the city between 2020 and 2021, with 2,236 arrests recorded.
    
5. Most alcohol-impaired drivers also get caught with drugs in their system. Drug-impaired drivers make up for 18% of the total vehicle crashes in the area.
    
6. The bulk of the DUI charges are slapped on younger drivers. One-third of all the drivers who were involved in DUI crashes were about 21 to 24 years old.
7. About 27% of drivers in Arizona say they drive under the influence, according to a survey.
    
8. Using ignition interlock devices can prevent repeat DUI offenses by up to 70%. Arizona requires that those who have been arrested for DUIs in the past must use these devices if they want to maintain their driver's licenses.
    
9. The Phoenix Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the area have specialized DUI units to track and put a stop to the high rate of impaired driving in the state.
    
10. There is a disturbingly high rate of alcohol-related traffic fatalities among racial/ethnic minorities in the region. Mounting a crash site rescue isn't always possible.
     
11. Depending on the outcome, drinking and driving can lead to jail time, fines, or significant driving restrictions. If a fatality occurs, the drunk driver may face between seven and up to twenty-one years in jail.
     
12. The part of Arizona with the highest number of alcohol-related traffic accidents and deaths is Maricopa County. According to AZCentral, 716 people in the County were killed in such accidents in 2020.
     
13. The significant rise in the number of drunk driving incidents between 2020 and 2022 in Arizona was most likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic for various reasons.
     
14. The Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety is the body responsible for regulating all matters related to DUIs, from education and resource allocations to enforcement.
     
15. Opting for ride sharing apps or having a designated driver can save you from a DUI charge and prevent a possible calamity whether you are in Arizona or not.