Extreme DUI in Arizona
Extreme DUI is a BAC of .15 to .199. It is still a misdemeanor, but the mandatory jail floor triples. The whole tier rests on one number, and that number is challengeable.
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- Extreme DUI means a BAC of .15 to .199. Below .15 is a regular DUI. A reading of .20 or more is super extreme.
- It carries a 30-day mandatory jail floor. All but 9 of those days can be suspended when you complete alcohol screening and install a certified ignition interlock.
- It is still a class 1 misdemeanor, not a felony, unless an aggravating factor turns it into an aggravated DUI.
- The .15 line is a hard cutoff. The exact breath or blood reading, and its margin of error, decide which tier you face.
What Makes a DUI "Extreme" in Arizona
Extreme DUI turns on a single number. A .149 is a regular DUI. A .15 is extreme, and the mandatory jail floor jumps from a starting point of 10 days to 30 consecutive days. One point on a breath or blood test moves the whole case.
That is exactly why the reading is worth fighting. Breath machines have a known margin of error, blood samples can be drawn or stored badly, and alcohol keeps rising after the last drink, so the number at the roadside is not always the number when you were driving. When the reading falls, the tier falls with it.
How Arizona Charges Extreme DUI
| The charge | What the law says | What is at stake |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme DUI, BAC .15 to .199 | A.R.S. § 28-1382(A)(1) | Class 1 misdemeanor, 30 consecutive days in jail, all but 9 suspendable with a certified interlock. |
| Regular DUI, the tier below | § 28-1381 | Impaired to the slightest degree or BAC .08 to .149, a 10-day starting point. |
| Super extreme DUI, the tier above | § 28-1382(A)(2) | BAC .20 or more, a 45-day floor. |
| If an aggravating factor applies | § 28-1383 | A suspended license, a child under 15, or a third DUI turns it into a felony. |
Where a Extreme DUI Can Break
Challenge the stop
If the police lacked a real reason to pull you over, the breath or blood evidence that followed can be suppressed.
Challenge the number
The reading is the case. We order an independent blood retest and question the machine's calibration, the margin of error, and how the sample was drawn and stored.
Fight the tier line
A result near .15, once the margin of error is applied, can drop to a regular DUI. That single move cuts the mandatory jail floor by two thirds.
Protect your license
We handle your Arizona MVD hearing in-house at no extra cost, so the fight for your license is not one more thing on you.
Your defense is led by Brielle Schumpe, our lead criminal defense lawyer.
Brielle leads criminal defense at Future First. She built her practice around one job: protecting people when their record, their job, and their freedom are on the line.
She challenges the stop, tests the evidence, protects your rights, and pushes the prosecutor for the best result your case allows.
You will know her by name. She will tell you the truth about your case, not what is easy to hear.
We Have Done This Before
Recent Maricopa County outcomes our clients have lived: a Tempe extreme DUI reduced two tiers to a slightest-degree DUI, a Buckeye extreme DUI reduced two tiers to the slightest degree, and a Glendale repeat extreme DUI cut down with jail days saved. Every case turns on its own evidence, and past results do not guarantee a future one.
For the full picture, read our Arizona DUI defense overview and the Arizona DUI laws guide. The tier above is super extreme DUI, and if a factor applies, see aggravated DUI.
I have been where you are.
When I was young, I got a DUI. I owned the mistake and took the plea. My public defender told me to go to the MVD and get a new license. I trusted him.
A month later I was a passenger in a friend’s car, not driving, when a police officer pulled us over for expired tags. The officer took everyone’s ID. Because my license was suspended the moment I handed mine over, he treated my real license as a fake ID and arrested me.
I offered my passport to prove who I was. The officer told me to tell it to the judge. The prosecutor said the same. I was a broke college student, so I represented myself at trial. The judge said he did not have the power to drop it. Only the officer or the prosecutor did, and they refused. I was convicted for handing over my own ID.
I finished law school in two years, seventh in my class, and passed the bar on my first try. The conviction still cost me a year of my career and a job I had already earned.
Everyone who was supposed to protect me failed me. The officer, the prosecutor, the limits on the judge, and my own lawyer. This is why Future First exists. You need someone in your corner who fights for you and tells you the truth.
Extreme DUI Questions People Ask
What is an extreme DUI in Arizona?
It is a DUI with a BAC of .15 to .199. The charge and the jail floor are steeper than a regular DUI, but it is still a class 1 misdemeanor, and the reading that puts you in the tier is challengeable.
What BAC is extreme DUI?
A blood or breath alcohol concentration of .15 up to .199. At .20 and above the charge becomes super extreme DUI, with a longer jail floor.
How much jail time does an extreme DUI carry?
The mandatory floor is 30 consecutive days. Arizona law lets a judge suspend all but 9 of those days when you complete alcohol screening and install a certified ignition interlock for a set period.
Is an extreme DUI a felony?
No, not on its own. It is a class 1 misdemeanor. It becomes a felony only if an aggravating factor applies, like a suspended license, a child under 15 in the car, or a third DUI within seven years.
Can the breath or blood reading be challenged?
Yes, and it often should be. Breath machines carry a margin of error, blood can be mishandled, and alcohol keeps absorbing after the last drink. A lower proven reading can drop the tier or the charge.
What is the difference between extreme and super extreme DUI?
The number. Extreme is .15 to .199 with a 30-day floor. Super extreme is .20 or higher with a 45-day floor. See our super extreme DUI page for that tier.
Will I lose my license for an extreme DUI?
A conviction brings a license suspension, and there is a short window to request an MVD hearing to fight it. We handle that hearing in-house at no extra cost.
Do I need a lawyer for an extreme DUI?
Yes. The jail floor is real and the case rests on a single number. A lawyer who knows how to attack the stop and the testing is what protects your record, your license, and your freedom.
One Number Should Not Decide Your Future
The sooner we start, the more we can protect. Tell us what happened in a free, confidential consultation, and you will leave knowing your options, your deadlines, and your exact flat fee.