The Internet Is Wrong About DUIs — Here’s Arizona’s Law

Police cruiser with flashing red and blue lights stopped behind a car at night, symbolizing a DUI traffic stop.

Online outrage about DUIs often ignores how Arizona law actually works. A first-time DUI with no injuries carries mandatory jail, but a fatal crash can lead to homicide or manslaughter charges with years in prison. Here’s what the law really says, why every DUI has consequences, and how accuracy matters as much as accountability.

Movie Lawyer vs. Real Lawyer: What Actually Protects You

Split-screen comparison: on the left, a dramatic Hollywood courtroom scene with a lawyer shouting and sparks flying; on the right, a calm office setting where a lawyer and client review documents.

Hollywood gets it wrong: the dramatic “movie lawyer” storming into an interrogation doesn’t protect you — silence does. In Arizona’s criminal system, the real power lies in refusing to talk, refusing consent, and clearly asking for a lawyer. Here’s why that quiet strategy is the strongest defense you have.