I was charged with a DUI in Scottsdale is there a time frame from which they have to draw my blood?
by
Aaron Black • May 23, 2016
The penalties for DUI in Arizona are some of the harshest in the country. With a conviction carrying mandatory jail time, fines, license suspension, and the ignition interlock device, depending on the blood alcohol concentration and history, jail can range from 1 day to 6 months for misdemeanors and up to 15 years for a felony.Arizona DUI law states that your blood or bodily fluid must be taken within 2 hours of driving. If however, your blood or bodily fluid was taken outside of the legal 2 hour limit, the state must then present testimony from a scientist as to what your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level was within the two hours of driving after you were stopped. This testimony is called retrograde extrapolation.
Retrograde extrapolation is a scientific and mathematical process used by scientists to estimate what a person’s BAC was at a specific time based on results at a later period. With that being said retrograde extrapolation is not a trustworthy science as many assumptions are made. In addition, the scientist must also know what and when was the last thing that you had to eat and when, what was the last thing that you had to drink. This is again another reason why you should never answer a police officers’ questions if you are arrested for a DUI.
If you are arrested for a DUI in Scottsdale please follow the steps below
- Be polite with the officer at all times
- Provide your license, registration and insurance
- If the officer asks you to step out of the vehicle, comply
- If the officer asks if you have been drinking, invoke your 5th Amendment Right which is the right to remain silent
- Immediately request an attorney
- Respectfully refuse all field sobriety tests such as the eye test, the walk & turn and the one leg stand
- Refuse the preliminary breath test (PBT). This is the small breath machine that is carried by officers in their car and can be administered on the side of the road. Contrary to popular belief, your license will not be suspended if you refuse the PBT
If however you are charged with a DUI in Scottsdale and your blood or bodily fluid was taken outside of the two hour limit after you were driving, contact DUI Defense attorney Aaron Black. I focus exclusively on DUI defense and I may be able to assist you as there are motions that can be filed to preclude retrograde testimony and there are defenses to be argued.
Click here to contact me or call (480)729-1683 for a free consultation today!
About the Author
Aaron Black is the founder and sole attorney of the Law Office of Aaron Black. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, his DUI and criminal defense law firm provides legal services to people who have received felony or misdemeanor charges from the state.
Aaron has developed a strong interest in defending people who have been arrested and received criminal charges for driving under the influence. With his professionalism and knowledge of Arizona DUI and criminal law, he has acted as a check and balance on the police, prosecution and courts and has protected a great number of his clients from excessive and unfair sentencing.Along with DUI defense, Aaron handles a range of other criminal matters, including aggravated assault, burglary, domestic violence, drug possession, drug trafficking, fraud defense, insurance fraud, sex crimes and white-collar crime.
After graduating college in 2003 from the University of Arizona, Aaron decided to pursue a law degree. He followed a family long tradition and went to the University of South Dakota School of Law where he pursued his goal of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.
After passing the Arizona and South Dakota bar exams, Aaron joined the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender where he defended hundreds of people charged with serious criminal offenses. His work as a public defender helped him sharpen his litigation skills and gave him a unique insight into the Arizona criminal justice system.
Over the course of his 15-year legal career, Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time in both Arizona justice, municipal, state and federal courts. He has argued over 50 jury trials, tried over 100 bench trials and has become one of the highest-rated criminal and DUI defense attorneys in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. He has received a 10/10 rating from the legal directory Avvo because of his legal background and successful case record. Since 2014, he has received the Super Lawyer rating for his work as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
You can review Aaron’s Attorney Bio page for more information about his background, education and experience as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
