Phoenix Vehicle Impoundment Lawyer

Being arrested for DUI exposes a person to a wide variety of penalties and some of them can be extremely harsh. In addition to fines and possible jail time, license suspension and ignition interlock devices, a DUI arrest can also result in the impoundment of your vehicle. If you have had your vehicle impounded after a DUI arrest, contact an experienced Phoenix DUI lawyer to discuss your options.

According to Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) § 28-3511, a police officer shall immobilize or impound the vehicle if there is probable cause to arrest the driver for violations involving Extreme DUI or Aggravated DUI. A person can be arrested for extreme DUI if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is at 0.15% or above, which would also include ‘super’ extreme DUI cases where the BAC is at 0.20% or higher.  A person can be charged with Aggravated DUI under certain circumstances, including:

• While driving on a suspended, canceled or revoked license
• While a child under 15 years of age is in the vehicle
• If the DUI/DWI/OUI is your third (in any state) in a period of 7 years

A vehicle can also be impounded under other circumstances, including when a driver did not have a valid driver’s license or it was revoked/suspended/canceled at the time of the stop, or if the driver was under the age of 21 with any amount of alcohol in his his/her body, or if the driver was in violation of an ignition interlock requirement.

Once the vehicle is impounded, it can be held for up to 30 days. There are certain circumstances, where a person may be able to get their car released sooner. Contact the Firm to discuss your options and determine whether you can avoid impoundment or attempt to get an already impounded car released.

Once your vehicle is eligible for release, you will be required to pay administrative fees to the police department who will then give you release paperwork to take to the tow yard. Once at the tow yard, you will then be required to pay for any towing charges and storage fees before your car will be released. If for some reason you are unable to claim your car within ten days of the available release date, the tow company can file for an abandoned title and try to seek ownership of the vehicle, so you will want to ensure that the appropriate arrangements can be made in order to avoid any issues.

The Law Offices of Trent R. Buckallew, PC is a law firm with nearly 25 years of experience in practicing DUI and criminal law. Mr. Buckallew has represented countless individuals in their criminal cases, both as a former public defender and a private criminal defense attorney. In addition to being well versed in criminal law, he also holds a Master's of Forensic Science (MFS) degree, giving him unique insight into criminal defense cases from both a legal and a scientific perspective. The Firm has the experience to assist you if you have been charged with DUI, and will work diligently towards seeking the release of your vehicle as quickly as possible.

Contact a Phoenix DUI lawyer who can work towards seeking a release of your vehicle, as well as represent you in DUI criminal court proceedings.