dui arrest

Arizona DUI attorney Christopher P. Corso and his team of DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group expect increased DUI checkpoints and DUI arrests this Fourth of July, the Scottsdale law firm announced today.

The Arizona attorney, who previously prosecuted DUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, bases this prediction on the state’s aggressive DUI prosecution in recent years.

In 2014, 389 people were arrested in Arizona on suspicion of drunk driving over three days during the July 4th holiday weekend, ABC 15 reports. The number of arrests increased 27 percent from 2013 due to the large increase in police saturation points.

“A rise in police activity means that more officers are on the roads paying close attention to driver behavior,” Corso said. “Police know Phoenix residents will be out drinking on the Fourth, and they won’t tolerate intoxicated driving or any other traffic violation – even minor offenses.”

Thousands of law enforcement officials worked overtime in 2014 to form an expansive DUI task force that reached across the Valley with 2,237 participating officers and deputies, according to The Arizona Republic. That’s a 55 percent increase from the 1,445 participants in Arizona in 2013.

For many, celebrating Independence Day means backyard barbecues, ball games, fireworks and beer, which is consumed 40 percent more on the Fourth of July, according to Marketplace by American Public Media.

“It’s easy to get carried away and not realize just how much you’ve had to drink,” Corso said. “People get behind the wheel thinking they’re fine to drive, not realizing the harm they could cause to themselves and others.”

If the potentially deadly consequences of drinking and driving aren’t reason enough to plan ahead on the Fourth of July, Corso Law Group suggests considering the severe legal consequences of an Arizona DUI.

Arizona has some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the country, with at least 24 hours of required jail time for all offenders, even first time offenders, as well as high fines and license suspension.

“Understanding the physical and legal harm associated with drunk driving, and taking the initiative to never drive while under the influence is a preventative measure we all can take to stay safe,” Corso said.

Additionally, Corso recommends Arizona residents know important Arizona DUI rights such as the right to remain silent; only provide certain documents such as insurance, registration and identification; and refuse to submit to all field sobriety tests. Blood and alcohol tests are the only tests DUI suspects should agree to.

To schedule a free consultation with Corso Law Group, please visit https://corsolawgroup.com or call (480) 471-4616.

Corso Law Group, PLLC is located at 17470 N. Pacesetter Way Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

Labor Day usually means backyard barbecues and pool parties. This year, it could mean a costly Arizona DUI charge, thanks to an increased police presence and DUI checkpoints throughout Phoenix.

Arizona law enforcement is planning to crack down on drunk drivers this Labor Day weekend. Last year, more than 2,000 officers made a total of more than 600 arrests at Arizona DUI checkpoints on Labor Day weekend.

Corso Law Group’s founding attorney Christopher P. Corso knows the dangers of DUIs. Both attorneys previously prosecuted DUIs, DWIs and OUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Combined, they have handled more than 15,000 DUI cases as prosecutors and defense attorneys.

“When you’re celebrating a holiday, you tend to relax your standards and don’t think twice about driving home or to the next party after having a couple of drinks,” Corso said. “That can prove to be a dangerous and costly miscalculation.”

The Arizona DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group have extensive experience handling cases that involve driving under the influence. Defense attorney Jeffrey Kegler brings an extensive knowledge of scientific research and evaluation to his cases.

Kegler applies this scientific knowledge and expertise to all traffic related and criminal cases to evaluate the breakdown and analysis of blood alcohol testing, speed measurement instruments and drug measurements.

That DUI experience proves to be invaluable after long weekend holidays like Labor Day, Corso said, when Arizona DUI arrests increase

In 2013, law enforcement made 656 DUI arrests from Thursday, August 29 to the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 3.

A police force of more than 2,000 officers and sheriff’s deputies from The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety led the 2013 Labor Day DUI campaign around the state, inundating roads with officers and DUI checkpoints.

Of the more than 600 arrests, 196 citations were for extreme DUI, meaning the blood-alcohol content was .15 or higher, and 126 citations were from drug DUIs. The legal limit is .08.

Arizona law enforcement doesn’t take driving under the influence lightly, and is prepared to ensure safety on the roads.

“A DUI in Arizona is a serious offense,” an attorney said. “The charges can severely impact your life in terms of your job and relationships, especially in Arizona where the law requires that any person found guilty of drinking and driving, even if it’s a first offense, serve jail time.

DUI convictions can also include extensive fines of up to $2,500, suspension of driving privileges and the installation of an ignition interlock device – even for first offenders.

The Arizona DUI defense attorneys at Corso Law Group do everything in their power to protect defendants’ families and advocate for their rights. They have the experience and expertise to deal with DUI charges in Arizona and will fight to get the charges dismissed and preserve their family.

Every DUI defense case in Arizona is different, however, and the outcome is dependent upon the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the DUI charges, which makes having an experienced Arizona DUI defense attorney even more important.

Corso Law Group has quickly built a reputation for its vigorous defense of clients, using its lawyers’ previous experience with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and other prosecutorial agencies to assist its clients with their criminal defense cases.

In addition to Arizona DUI issues, Corso Law Group handles a myriad of criminal cases, including civil speeding, criminal speeding in Arizona, domestic violence defense, possession of drugs, felony drug charges, photo radar, 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.

It’s back to school season which means thousands of students will return to college campuses over the next several weeks.

Students and parents should be aware that police are cracking down on DUIs and underage drinking near college campuses at this time of year.

With a high volume of students living on campus and in college towns, there are more opportunities for large parties and bar hopping which may lead to DUI incidents for drivers and alcohol-related charges for the underaged.

Last fall at Arizona State University, the Tempe Police Department’s “Safe and Sober” task force, which focuses on crimes involving alcohol, reported 371 arrests in three days the weekend before classes started and 486 arrests in three days the weekend after classes started, the Phoenix New Times reports.

A total of 86 drunk driving arrests, 208 minors in possession of alcohol arrests and numerous others were made by Tempe PD over those two weekends in 2013, according to a report form Tempe PD in the Phoenix New Times.

Many students in Arizona universities are from different states and countries. In fact, 37 percent of the freshman class were not from Arizona in 2012, according to ASU.

These non-residents may not be familiar with their DUI rights and Arizona DUI laws.

For example, many new and returning students may not know that Arizona law requires any person found guilty of drinking and driving serve jail time. DUI convictions can also include extensive fines up to $2,500, suspension of driving privileges and the installation of an ignition interlock device – all of this even for first offenders.

“DUIs are very common during the summer months and can continue into the fall when universities fill up again,” Christopher P. Corso of Corso Law Group said.

Every DUI defense case in Arizona is different, however, and the outcome is dependent upon the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the DUI charges, which makes having an experienced Arizona DUI defense attorney even more important.

Corso and his fellow founding partner John M. Rhude know the dangers of DUIs from their own professional experience. Both attorneys previously prosecuted DUIs, DWIs and OUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The experienced Arizona traffic lawyers at Corso Law Group serve clients throughout Arizona, including the cities of Ahwatukee, Avondale, Buckeye, Chandler, El Mirage, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson and Youngtown.

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

There are few feelings worse than the sinking feeling in your stomach when you see flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror.

When getting pulled over, the last thing you want to do is get yourself into even more trouble by putting your foot in your mouth or saying anything offensive to an officer. Being difficult, aggressive, or condescending will only land you in deeper trouble with an officer and can even result in he or she tacking on extra charges to your ticket. When interacting with an officer, avoid all of the following behaviors and phrases if you want to stay on an officer’s good side.

“I wasn’t doing anything wrong”: It’s generally a good idea not to argue or don an aggressive tone with a police officer, because an officer’s penal decisions can often be based on how cooperative or accommodating a citizen is. To insist that you haven’t done anything wrong implies that the officer doesn’t know what he’s doing, and that condescending implication can sometimes land you in even more trouble.

“Baby/ Sweetheart/ Honey”: Sweet-talking an officer with these sort of affectionate nicknames undermines their authority and gives the appearance that you lack respect. Professionalism is key when interacting with an officer, so stick with “sir,” “ma’am,” or just plain-old “officer” when interacting with a cop.

“I was just trying to keep up with traffic”: This and similar statements invoke the classic “If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you, too?” idiom, and coming up with excuses only betrays your nerves. A police officer does not view laws as flexible, so blaming your violations on the actions of others won’t change his mind about the illegality of your actions.

“My taxes pay your salary”: This indignant claim won’t carry much weight with an officer. Chances are, he or she won’t perceive you paying your taxes as a personal favor, considering the fact you as a citizen are legally mandated to do so. These sorts of statements also run the risk of sounding like bribery or a leveraging of the situation to get yourself out of trouble, which will only serve to irk and offend the officer.

“I’m in kind of a hurry here”: Insinuating that your time is more important than a police officer’s will only come across as offensive and condescending. Officers do not base their charges on situational context like if the violator in question is running late for something, and showing any sort of impatience or annoyance will put you on an officer’s bad side.

Any jokes about having a body in the trunk, a gun in the glove box, etc: These comments make it seem like you aren’t taking the situation seriously and belittle serious offenses. Officers are on guard at all times for any major trouble or potential violence in a criminal setting and take everything very literally, so they don’t take kindly to you belittling or making light of a serious situation.

Tip: Always keep be honest. Police officers are trained to detect giveaways that someone is lying, like blinking, touching one’s face, and avoiding eye contact. Testing an officer’s ability to tell if you’re lying is a dangerous game, and the repercussions for lying to an officer, which can include inordinate fees and even jail time, just aren’t worth the risk. Your best bet for getting out as hassle-free as possible is to comply with the officer’s demands and maintain a patient, polite tone at all times.

The experienced attorneys at Corso Law Group serve clients throughout Arizona, including the cities of Ahwatukee, Avondale, Buckeye, Chandler, El Mirage, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson and Youngtown.

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.

Drinking and driving never mix but the Arizona DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group know Arizona DUIs are even more dangerous over the July 4^th weekend.

The Arizona DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group know the long Fourth of July weekend can be a dangerous proposition for many Arizonans.

“It’s really about letting your guard down,” said Arizona DUI lawyer Christopher P. Corso of Corso Law Group. “Long holiday weekends always pose trouble for Arizona DUIs because many people host backyard parties or barbecues, forget that they’ve been drinking all day long and then get in a car to run to the store or drive a loved one home. It’s a summer recipe for disaster.”

The hazards of drinking and driving in Arizona are very familiar to Corso. He previously prosecuted DUIs, DWIs and OUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

“In the time, we’ve seen a lot of different scenarios for being arrested for an Arizona DUI but one thing remains the same – drinking and driving don’t mix, especially in Arizona, which has some of the nation’s toughest DUI laws,” Corso said. “That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced DUI lawyer on your side.”

For people suspected of a DUI in Arizona, Corso cautions that they must understand their rights including the right to remain silent; only providing insurance, registration and identification; and refusing to submit to all field sobriety tests.

According to Corso, a blood and alcohol test is the only test a person suspected of drunk driving should take.

Arizona takes DUI laws very seriously, Corso said, even for first time offenders. Any person found guilty of drinking and driving is required to serve a minimum of 24 hours in jail, even if there were no damages or injuries involved. Heavy fines are also included with DUI convictions and can be as high as $2,500 plus additional charges. Other penalties assessed include suspension of driving privileges, probation and the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Every DUI defense case in Arizona is different, and the outcome is dependent upon the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the DUI charges, which makes having an experienced Arizona DUI defense attorney even more important. In addition to DUIs and DWIs, the Arizona criminal defense attorneys at Corso Law Group handle myriad criminal cases, including domestic violence defense, possession of drugs, felony drug charges, photo radar, criminal speeding, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession.

Corso Law Group’s Arizona DUI attorneys do everything in their power to protect defendants’ families and advocate for their rights. They have the experience and expertise to deal with DUI charges in Arizona and will fight to get the charges dismissed while counseling the accused’s family.

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.

Memorial Day marks the start of summer, and the Arizona DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group want to remind Arizona drivers to welcome the new season responsibly over the course of the long holiday weekend.

It’s not all wild parties and bar hopping that can lead to costly DUI defenses. Backyard barbecues and pool parties are also common Memorial Day festivities that can result in drunk driving for many, according to founding partner Christopher P. Corso.

“DUIs are very common during the summer months, and many times they happen very close to home, when you relax your standards and don’t think twice about driving to the store after having a couple of beers,” Corso said.

In fact, nearly 560 people in Arizona were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving over the three-day weekend last May, according to KPHO.

Corso and his fellow founding partner John M. Rhude know the dangers of DUIs from their own professional experience. 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.

Since Memorial Day is typically associated with a long three-day weekend and the start of summer, many Arizonans travel to national parks, campsites and the lakes around Arizona to celebrate. With the crowded conditions already decreasing safety on the road, many drivers are commonly distracted and oftentimes are not fit to drive.

In 2013, a number of officers from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Arizona Game and Fish and the U.S. Forest Service targeted areas such as Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, Bartlett Lake, Lake Pleasant, Verde River, Lower Salt River, all of the county parks and the Tonto National Forest to patrol for DUIs over the Memorial Day weekend.

“Memorial Day is one of the deadliest holidays to drive each year,” Rhude said, citing a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. “Adding alcohol to that mix is a recipe for disaster.”

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.

The Arizona DUI defense attorneys at Corso Law Group do everything in their power to protect defendant’s families and advocate for their rights. They have the experience and expertise to deal with DUI charges in Arizona and will fight to get the charges dismissed and preserve their family.

Every DUI defense case in Arizona is different, however, and the outcome is dependent upon the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the DUI charges, which makes having an experienced Arizona DUI defense attorney even more important.

Corso Law Group has quickly built a reputation for its vigorous defense of clients, using its lawyers’ previous experience with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and other prosecutorial agencies to assist its clients with their criminal defense cases.

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

The experienced Arizona traffic lawyers at Corso Law Group serve clients throughout Arizona, including the cities of Ahwatukee, Avondale, Buckeye, Chandler, El Mirage, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson and Youngtown.

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.

While Arizonans are busy celebrating Cinco de Mayo with festivities, food and drinks, Arizona’s police force will be on the lookout for revelers who choose to get behind the wheel and drive home after too many margaritas.

Last year, more than 1,200 police officers and deputies participated in the DUI Task Force during Cinco de Mayo weekend to ensure everyone was driving home safely, and sober. Of the 6,500 traffic stops that were conducted, 460 people were arrested for DUI, including 148 extreme DUIs.

These statistics demonstrate that Arizona DUI laws are not to be taken lightly. Arizona is one of the toughest states on DUIs. Penalties include mandatory jail time, license suspension and significant fines even for a first offense. Having an experienced Arizona DUI defense attorney on your side could make a huge difference in your case, according to the Scottsdale law firm Corso Law Group.

“Arizona DUI convictions could mean jail time for more than 10 days, a minimum fine of $1,250, installation of a certified ignition interlock device and more,” said Christopher Corso. “DUIs are not only dangerous but extremely expensive, which makes having an experienced DUI defense attorney imperative.”

Corso are former Maricopa County prosecutors with plenty of Arizona DUI expereince. Together, they have more than 15,000 DUI cases under their belt, making them an excellent choice when it comes to Arizona DUI defense.

Although every DUI case is different, and outcomes are dependent on the circumstances surrounding the charges, the Arizona DUI defense attorneys at Corso Law Group know how the system works and do everything to protect the rights of their clients.

“Our job is to protect our clients and their families,” Rhude said. “We do that through the aggressive defense of our clients, keeping their families informed throughout the process and working hard to obtain the best possible outcome.”

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

The experienced criminal defense lawyers at Corso Law Group serve clients throughout Arizona, including the cities of Ahwatukee, Avondale, Buckeye, Chandler, El Mirage, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson and Youngtown.

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.