With Nearly 27,000 DUI Arrests in Arizona This Year, Phoenix DUI Lawyers Corso Law Group Urge Caution this New Year’s Eve

Nearly 27,000 DUI arrests have been made in Arizona in 2014, according to Phoenix DUI lawyers Corso Law Group, who closely monitor DUI statistics in the state.

But while that number may be down from 2013 statistics also issued by Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group that New Year’s Eve can still prove deadly for Arizona drivers.

“Late November marks the beginning of the most dangerous time to be on the roads in Arizona, said Christopher P Corso, an Arizona DUI lawyer and the founding partner in the Arizona criminal defense firm Corso Law Group. “With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve packed into two months, the potential risk for drunk driving and Arizona Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests is much greater.”

Thanksgiving drunk driving is dangerous enough, totaling 372 DUI arrests over the four-day weekend this year. While that arrest statistic is down from 424 in 2013, the most dangerous time is yet to come, Corso said.

According to stats provided by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, more than 8,000 DUI arrests were made in Arizona between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve from December 2012 to early January 2014.

A total of 4,054 arrests were documented from November 23, 2012 to December 31, 2012 and 3,942 were documented from November 25, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Aggravated DUI statistics increased slightly, while extreme DUIs declined by more than 100 arrests.

In Arizona, a standard DUI is classified as driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more or 0.04 percent in a commercial vehicle. If the driver is younger than 21 years old, a zero tolerance law takes effect. An extreme DUI is classified as driving with a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher. An aggravated DUI is a DUI with a suspended license, third DUI offense within 84 months, or a DUI committed while driving with a passenger 15 years old or younger.

This is the first time in 10 years that the number of DUIs actually decreased from the previous year according to the DUI enforcement statistics released by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. There were around 29,000 DUI arrests in 2013, down from more than 32,000 in 2012.

“Even if the annual DUI rate has decreased, the holiday risk is ever present,” Corso said. “Unfortunately the danger is real and just as pressing this year as last, even if the numbers don’t show it.”

People let their guard down during the holidays when responsible drinking is not one of the highest priorities, Corso said.

Corso Law Group know from experience that the holidays influence the number of Arizona DUI arrests made. However, every DUI case in Arizona is different, which means, having an experienced Arizona DUI defense attorney is more important than ever.

With more than 40,000 DUI cases handled as prosecutors and defense attorneys, Corso Law Group lawyers will do everything in their power to protect and defend clients. Corso Law Group is known for its vigorous defense of clients as well as using its lawyers’ previous experience with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to their advantage.

To schedule a free consultation, please visit www.corsolawgroup.com or call (480) 471-4616. Corso Law Group, PLCC is located at 17470 N. Pacesetter Way Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

DUI Immunity Not Granted to Arizona Medical Marijuana Users

The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that medical marijuana users are not protected from DUI charges if there is any trace of marijuana or its compound in the body while driving.

Marijuana metabolites can stay in the body for weeks, but may not be significant enough to cause impairment. While these compounds may be inactive, this law still prohibits driving with any trace of marijuana in the body.

Approximately 50,000 people in Arizona use medical marijuana since the inception of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act in 2010.

Some have argued that the act is supposed to protect medical users from DUI charges so long as they are not driving while impaired; however, a three-judge panel recently ruled against Travis Lance Darrah, who was charged with two counts of DUI for driving with the drug in his system in December 2011.

The DUI charge based on impairment was dropped, but he was convicted of charges based on the presence of marijuana compounds in the body. Darrah appealed the charge, arguing that the compounds did not cause impairment, but judges disagreed and his conviction stands, azcentral reports.

If you have a medical marijuana prescription and are arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired, call the Arizona DUI defense lawyers at Corso Law Group right away at (480) 471-4616.

Arizona Makes Advances in Finding Missing Elderly with New Silver Alert

Arizona issued its first Silver Alert last month to aid in the recovery of a missing 79-year-old Surprise woman.

Similar to an Amber Alert or a Blue Alert, as of July 2014, Arizona now issues Silver Alerts on Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) emergency-alert message boards around the state to report information on missing persons 65 or older.

Read more on Blue Alerts here.

Arizona issued its first Silver Alert Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2014, for Ethel Crescenzo who went missing on her way to the Talking Stick Casino in Scottsdale.

Crescenzo became disoriented and lost when she left for the casino that morning. She was found by police Sunday night in a West Valley desert area after a man alerted police of a suspicious car in the embankment near his home. Crescenzo was found within four hours of the report, ABC 15 said.

If a missing persons report has been issued by police, and all other resources to find the missing man or woman have been exhausted, The Arizona Republic reports that a Silver Alert may be activated.

The alert will also be issued if the missing person could be in imminent danger due to health concerns or any other pressing issues.

There are 193 ADOT message boards in the state, with 108 located across the Valley. Law requires that the location of the missing person incident will dictate how many signs flash the alert message information. Only the region where the disappearance took place will display the Silver Alert.

Most recent information about a missing elderly person will appear on the boards in hopes of enlisting the help of drivers to find him or her.

Jodi Arias Murder Trial Testimony Delayed

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens tried to close courtroom doors during part of the retrial of Jodi Arias to accommodate a secret witness testimony, but the testimony has been delayed, and the court remains open to the public, court officials said.

The trial is in the penalty phase with a new jury impaneled last month due to a deadlock in May 2013. The original jury determined that Arias was eligible for the death penalty, but no conclusion was made on which punishment she would receive, The Huffington Post said.

Now, the second jury will determine once again whether Arias will face the death penalty.

At the request of the defense attorneys to Arias, Judge Stephens closed the court Thursday, Oct. 30, for a new testimonial from a witness who wished to remain unidentified in this highly publicized case.

The following Monday, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the public should be allowed to view courtroom testimony during such an important, high-profile case that has garnered attention across the nation, Reuters reports.

As a result of this decision, Stephens is temporarily restricted from taking any further testimony from witnesses while closing doors to the the media and the public.

The Jodi Arias case has been unpredictable from the start, but Stephens taking legal matters into her own hands and causing a media block-out is the latest twist to the story, keeping Arizona, and the rest of the country, on its toes.

Arias, 34, was convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, 30, after he decided to end their relationship. Prosecutors accused her of acting in a jealous rage, but Arias said she acted in self-defense.

Alexander was stabbed more than 30 times, nearly beheaded from a slash to the throat and shot in the forehead. Friends found his body days later in the shower of his Mesa home.

If the new jury deadlocks again, it will be up to a judge to determine whether Arias will be sentenced to life in prison or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, The Arizona Republic said.

Thanksgiving Weekend the Most Deadly Weekend of the Year, According to Arizona DUI Lawyers Corso Law Group

Thanksgiving weekend outranks New Year’s Eve and Halloween as the most deadly weekend of the year for holiday travelers across the country according to The National Safety Council and DUI arrest data.

For many, Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and a joyous carefree time with family and friends. However, the annual tradition often involves long commutes to visit relatives, celebratory drinking, and extended time off work. What at first glance appears to be a harmless holiday tradition can make for a dangerous combination for everyone.

Arizona DUI attorneys and former prosecutors Christopher Corso want Valley residents to keep safety in mind as they begin to travel this busy holiday season.

“Thanksgiving is an important time for travel, reconnecting with family, and enjoying holiday tradition,” Corso said. “However, few people realize that Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday of the year when it comes to drunk driving.”

A national study conducted by The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that traffic deaths around Thanksgiving accounted for nearly 15% of all vehicle-related fatalities in November. In 2013, the NSC estimated 436 traffic-related Thanksgiving fatalities occurred through the four day holiday weekend.

Rhude believes many people let their guard down on Thanksgiving, with the day-long festivities encouraging them to not only drink more, but to assume that they haven’t had as much to drink.

“And then, of course, they get in their car and drive home,” Rhude said.

Busy roads in combination with many holiday drinking traditions make these major accidents far more common around the holidays, particularly Thanksgiving eve or “Black Wednesday.”

“Black Wednesday isn’t a day that pops up on most people’s radar, but the mixture of relatives in town, students home from school and no work the following day makes for a busy day on the roads,” Tricia Griffith, claims group president at Progressive, told USA Today.

Unfortunately the dangerous trend doesn’t stop after Thanksgiving weekend, and Corso said drivers should continue to keep these dangers in mind as they travel throughout the holiday season.

During the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, nearly 4,400 people in Arizona were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in 2013, according to The Arizona Republic. Equating to, on average, more than 730 DUI arrests each week beginning on Thanksgiving Day.

The Arizona Governor’s Office team of officers participating in the holiday crackdown found that of the 4,371 arrests, 1,098 were extreme DUIs, 450 were aggravated DUIs, 934 were drug-related DUIs, and the average blood-alcohol content was 0.15 percent.

Corso Law Group know from experience the DUI problems that arise during the Thanksgiving weekend in Arizona. Both attorneys previously prosecuted DUIs, DWIs and OUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and have handled more than 15,000 DUI cases as prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Arizona law requires that any person found guilty of drinking and driving (even a first offense) serve jail time. And DUI convictions can also include extensive fines up to $2,500, suspension of driving privileges and the installation of an ignition interlock device – even for first offenders.

“DUI is a serious offense and something that no person should take lightly,” Corso said. “When you’re armed with the facts, the importance of a designated driver if you plan on drinking becomes even more apparent.”

To schedule a free consultation, please visit www.corsolawgroup.com or call (480) 471- 4616. Corso Law Group, PLLC is located at 17470 N. Pacesetter Way Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

How a DUI Impacts Auto Insurance

A DUI or DWI charge may indicate a high risk of possible accidents, enabling insurance companies to inflate auto-insurance rates tremendously for approximately three years for anyone facing intoxicated or drunk driving charges.

High-risk driving is associated with DUI charges, as driving while impaired is an extremely dangerous situation to the driver and everyone else in the vicinity. People driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.09 percent are 11 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those with a 0.0 BAC, Esurance reports.

That type of high-risk driving is a red flag for insurance companies to exert higher premiums. Having a DUI on their driving history shows greater risk of being involved in or causing an accident.

How much will insurance rates increase with a DUI charge?

Insurance rates depend on a variety of factors including age, gender and driving records. For example, someone with only one DUI charge where no one was injured and no property was damaged, insurance premiums alone – not including the other costs of a DUI like treatment program, court and attorney fees – can increase to $2,700, making insurance hundreds of dollars more expensive each month.

Premiums will remain high for years depending on the state and it’s individual laws. In Arizona and Texas for example, DUI charges affect insurance rates for three years after the date of the incident, Progressive said.

During that three year period, high-risk drivers will most likely not be able to switch insurance policies, qualify to use insurance promotion deals or change companies because of extra fees and added challenges starting the evaluation process once a DUI is on his or her record.

A conservative cost estimate for the total amount of money spent on a DUI charge is just under $9,000. Thousands of dollars, possible injuries, property damage, emotional distress and other threats of a DUI are not worth it, call a cab or designate a driver before getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

No Refusal DUIs Make Headlines in Arizona and Texas During Holidays

Texas and Arizona are two of nine states currently implementing “No-Refusal” initiatives for DUI stops.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsors special DUI efforts called “No-Refusal” DUI Weekend Initiatives that enforce blood alcohol content testing for those who are arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Currently, nine states including Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas and Utah conduct.

The “No-Refusal” program is an enforcement strategy that allows police to more easily obtain search warrants for blood samples from suspected impaired drivers who have refused to consent to breath tests, the NHTSA said.

During these “No-Refusal” weekends, officers are allowed to request warrants via phone from on-call judges or magistrates.

This enables law enforcement to legally acquire proper blood samples from drivers who refuse to give a breath sample. During these specified enforcement efforts, prosecutors and judges make themselves available to streamline the warrant acquisition process and help build solid cases that can lead to impaired driving convictions.

Under normal DUI checkpoint and arrests circumstances in general, the driver is taken to a hospital for blood to be drawn if a judge issues a warrant for the test. During “No Refusal” initiatives, a registered nurse is at a jail to draw blood onsite.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) criticizes “No-Refusal” policies because they violate the driver’s rights against unreasonable search and seizure. Some judges agree, and refuse to participate in these efforts because of legal uncertainties regarding the mass warrant issuing process.

Others say that “No-Refusal” weekends are like any other day for law enforcement.

“That officer has a legal avenue (of seeking a warrant from a judge) that they can take regardless of the ‘No Refusal’ weekend,” Johnny Poulos, director of public affairs for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said in USA Today about a recently conducted “No-Refusal” initiative.

The chance of being caught driving drunk, arrested and convicted increase when “No-Refusal” checkpoints are taking place, so efforts are often highly publicized. The public is made aware of the consequences, and judges are notified of the initiatives as well because of the increased amount of calls they will receive from officers for warrants.

Arizona DUI Lawyers Corso Law Group Gives Back This Thanksgiving with Turkey Giveaway

Corso Law Group is giving away free turkeys in November on its Facebook page to give thanks to its fans and remind everyone to drive responsibly this holiday season.

“We consider ourselves a part of the community and enjoy opportunities to give back,” said Christopher P. Corso of Corso Law Group. “And besides, who couldn’t use a free turkey?”

From Nov. 1 through Nov. 22, the Scottsdale law firm will give away a turkey per day to Arizona residents who first “like” the company’s Facebook page, and then post a comment.Arizona's Criminal Defense Attorneys

Arizona residents are eligible to enter once per day but can only win one turkey. Find the Corso Law Group page at www.facebook.com/corsolawgroup/.

In addition to entering the contest, Facebook visitors will also find helpful legal information on the Corso Law Group page.

“Thanksgiving is an important time for reconnecting with family and it’s also an extremely dangerous time because of drunk drivers,” Corso said. “Few people know that Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday of the year when it comes to drunk driving.”

According to a 2009 Forbes magazine study, an average of 401 people die each year on New Year’s Day, the fifth worst holiday for drunk driving. The worst is Thanksgiving, with an average of 567 deaths each year.

The winter holiday season continues to be a dangerous time for driving.

During the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, nearly 4,400 people in Arizona were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in 2013, The Arizona Republic said.

On average, that means more than 730 DUI arrests were made each week starting on Thanksgiving.

The Arizona Governor’s Office team of officers participating in the holiday crackdown found that of the 4,371 arrests, 1,098 were extreme DUIs, 450 were aggravated DUIs, 934 were drug-related DUIs, and the average blood-alcohol content was 0.15 percent.

A national six-year study between 2006 and 2011 conducted by The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that traffic deaths around Thanksgiving accounted for nearly 15% of all vehicle-related fatalities in November.

In 2013, the NSC estimated 436 traffic-related Thanksgiving fatalities.

Rhude and his law partner Christopher Corso know from experience the Arizona DUI problems that can arise during the Thanksgiving weekend. Both attorneys previously prosecuted DUIs, DWIs and OUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Combined, Corso Law Group have handled more than 15,000 DUI cases as prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Arizona law requires that any person found guilty of drinking and driving (even a first offense) serve jail time. And DUI convictions can also include extensive fines up to $2,500, suspension of driving privileges and the installation of an ignition interlock device – even for first offenders.

“DUI is a serious offense and something that no person should take lightly,” Corso said. “When you’re armed with the facts, it makes it even more vital that you have a designated driver if you plan on drinking – even on Thanksgiving.”

In addition to DUI defense, Corso Law Group handles all criminal defense cases, including domestic violence defense, possession of drugs, felony drug charges, photo radar, criminal speeding, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession.

To schedule a free consultation, please visit www.corsolawgroup.com or call (480) 471- 4616. Corso Law Group, PLLC is located at 17470 N. Pacesetter Way Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

Still Fighting Child Abuse Charges, Vikings Running Back Adrian Peterson May Also Face Drug Charges After Admission

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson may face possible bond revocation and jail time as prosecutors allege he admitted to using marijuana, which violates the bail conditions of his felony child abuse charge.

Peterson was indicted on charges of negligent injury to a child by a grand jury in May for hitting his son, who normally lives with his mother, with a switch (thin wooden stick) during his stay at Peterson’s home north of Houston, Fox Sports said.

Adrian Peterson

Police have not released details about the case, CNN said, but Peterson did turn himself in and was released Sept. 12 on a $15,000 bond with one of the conditions including mandatory drug testing.

The Washington Post reports that documents from TMZ and Fox Houston say that Peterson admitted to an employee of the drug testing company Wednesday while giving a urine sample that he had “smoked a little weed,” but it is unclear whether he failed the test.

Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon asked the primary judge in the case, Kelly Case, to arrest Peterson again and revoke his bond for using drugs and violating the conditions of his bail.

Judge Case may raise the bond amount or rearrest Peterson and require him to pay another bond, but it is unclear when Ligon’s request against Peterson will be ruled on because he has also made a request for Case to recuse himself after he made comments that the lead prosecutors in the case were “media whores,” The Washington Post said.

Rusty Hardin, Peterson’s attorney, said in a statement that Ligon’s motion to revoke Peterson’s bond will come up only when it’s known which judge will hear the case, and the defense will respond at that time, Fox Sports said.

Currently, Peterson remains free on bond. He was deactivated by the Vikings on Sept. 17 and continues to receive his full $11.75 million salary although he can not participate in any team activities.

Peterson is considered one of the best running backs in the NFL, according to CNN, and signed a seven-year contract with the Vikings worth more than $100 million in 2011.

Peterson has defended himself saying that he’s “not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser,” CNN reports. Hardin said his client didn’t mean to harm his son, but was disciplining him like “he experienced as a child growing up in East Texas.

Statute of limitations keeps open decades-old molestation case involving actor Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins, the pastor father on the TV show “7th Heaven,” faces possible child molestation charges after recordings of the actor admitting to three instances of inappropriate behavior with young girls during a therapy session were released on Oct. 6.

And while some of the allegations are more than 40 years old, the popular actor could still face charges because of how the statute of limitations is applied to such cases.Stephen Collins

The allegations could present legal difficulties for Collins, given the fact that his alleged confessions had been taped. TMZ obtained the recordings, which Mark Kaplan, Collins’ attorney, said his estranged wife, actress Faye Grant, must have released since she secretly recorded him and has been using the tape as leverage for money in their divorce case, USA Today reports.

Collins is heard speaking to Grant and to a therapist about exposing himself to three underage girls over the past decade, one of which is suspected by TMZ to be a relative of his first wife, Marjorie Weinman.

Grant told E! News that she recorded the therapy session as part of a request from law enforcement, but was not involved in the release of the tape to the media.

“I woke up today to learn that an extremely private recording I handed over to the authorities in 2012 per their request in connection with a criminal investigation was recently disseminated to the press,” she said.

The Associated Press reports that New York police have an open investigation into allegations that Collins molested a 14-year-old girl in 1972. Police spokesman Stephen David said the complaint was filed in 2012, and remains open although no charges have been filed, according to USA Today.

But while decades have passed since the molestation, Collins may still face charges depending on the statute of limitations surrounding the incident. Since authorities consider the actual crime date to begin when the case is reported, not when it occurs, Collins could face charges for a 42-year-old crime. For example, TMZ reports that the statute of limitations runs from the date of the reporting in 2012 on the New York case, not the date of the illegal act occurring in 1972.

Statutes of limitation vary by state, and are set time limits on how long after a civil or criminal act is reported that charges may be pressed and that a state can make prosecutions. For example, in New York, the statute of limitation for personal injury is two years, but there is no time limit for a rape or murder case.

Award Logo
Award Logo
Award Logo
Award Logo
Award Logo