Tempe College Student DWI Lawyer

With classes in session on college campuses across Arizona, students look for ways to balance their work and study time with well-deserved breaks. Many times, these breaks occur on weekends and include drinking. If you have been pulled over and accused of drunk driving on Apache Boulevard near Arizona State University, or along Fountainhead Parkway close to Western International University, hire a Tempe college student DWI lawyer immediately.

Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm: Protecting Tempe Area College Students

At Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm, we believe there is nothing wrong with having a good time with friends, especially after a long week of stringent classes and work. However, you need to be prepared for the consequences that can arise if you are pulled over for impaired driving. Since 2005, our firm has been fighting for the rights of individuals just like yourself. When you need the advocacy of an experienced attorney, Mr. Davidson is here to help.

Penalties for a DWI Charge in Tempe

Arizona rates sixth in the nation for states with the highest number of DWI deaths per 100,000 residents. To combat this, the laws surrounding driving while intoxicated (DWI) situations in the Grand Canyon State are some of the strictest in the country. Across Arizona, it is illegal to operate or be in actual physical control of a motorized vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.

For an individual who is under the legal drinking age of 21, if there is any level of alcohol in their system, they can be charged with an underage DWI.

In most cases, when facing DWI charges in Tempe, there are several penalties that may arise. At Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm, it is our job to fight these penalties, including:

• Automatic jail time
• Mandatory alcohol or safe driving classes
• Fines totaling thousands of dollars
• Additional court or legal fees
• The potential for community restitution or service
• Mandatory installation of an Ignition Interlock Device, proven to reduce repeat offenses by 70%

In cases of repeat offenses or in situations where certain aggravating factors are present, these penalties can increase a great deal. Aggravating factors include if you have any prior DWI convictions on your record, if there is a child under a certain age present in your vehicle, or if you are driving on a suspended or revoked license.

The Collateral Damage of a DWI Conviction

As a college student in Tempe, facing the possibility of a DWI conviction, the most important thing to remember is that the consequences you could be handed aren’t just those of a legal nature. While yes, the possibility of jail time, fines, and IID installation is very real, it is also crucial to realize a DWI conviction can impact both your personal life and your college studies.

Most college administrations do not take kindly to a DWI charge. For most students in the Tempe area, if you are dealt a DWI conviction, you will likely also deal with the following additional consequences:

• Financial aid loss. When you are successfully convicted of a DWI in Tempe, whether you are a student at Arizona State University, Sonoran University of Health Sciences, or Western International University, your eligibility to receive or maintain scholarships or other forms of financial aid may be placed in jeopardy.
• Academic penalties. Depending on your school, a DWI conviction could see you suspended or even expelled.
• Housing issues. There are some colleges and universities in the Tempe area that have policies prohibiting students with DWI convictions from living in certain on-campus forms of housing. This could make it almost impossible to attend a school of your choice, and finding housing outside of on-campus options could be just as difficult, as a successful conviction would mean the presence of a criminal record on your background check.
• Future employment implications. Having a DWI conviction on your record can harm your chances of securing virtually any kind of employment in the future. In the United States, individuals with DWI convictions or a criminal record face an unemployment rate of 30%. Depending on your area of study, you may find it virtually impossible to secure a job even upon graduation if convicted of a DWI.

What If I Am Underage?

Across the United States, the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years old. However, most college students fall below this age, meaning when they are arrested for impaired driving, they can also be charged with underage drinking. Thankfully, when you work with the team at Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm, there are several strategies we can consider when building your defense, like:

• Questioning the legality of the traffic stop, which resulted in your DWI charge
• Whether you were in actual physical control of the vehicle
• Questioning the BAC results of any blood, urine, or breathalyzer tests
• Questioning the administration and scoring of any performed field sobriety tests

The reality is, even if you have been arrested for a DWI, especially as a minor, it does not always mean that you are guilty. If you or your child has been arrested for an underage DWI as a student at any Tempe area college or university, it is crucial that you reach out to a trusted DWI attorney as soon as possible who can protect your rights and your future.

Hire a College Student DWI Lawyer From Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm Today

Being arrested for a DWI charge can be overwhelming and scary, especially if you are still underage. At Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm, we make it our duty to ensure you are treated fairly in court and that the charges against you are reduced or even dropped, depending on the case. As a college student, facing a DWI charge places your entire future at stake, and you need to hire a college student DWI lawyer who is ready to fight for that future.

Contact our offices today if you or your child is facing drunk driving charges in Tempe. Let us review your case and determine the correct course of legal action to move forward and get your future back on track.