new year’s eve

Phoenix – Veteran Scottsdale DUI attorney and founder of Corso Law Group, Christopher Corso, says Valley residents will be under extra scrutiny during Arizona’s DUI crackdown this New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Police are increasing saturation patrols in Phoenix, the East Valley and the West Valley throughout the holiday weekend and New Year’s Day, according to a statement by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The program is tasked with lowering the number of intoxicated drivers on the road with patrols and traffic stops that resulted in 14,079 sober, designated drivers contacted to escort impaired drivers home in 2014.

Corso says Valley residents can expect to see DUI patrols and stops in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

“Law enforcement officials are well aware that New Year’s Eve ranks as one of the deadliest holidays, and they’re taking action,” Corso said. “Police will be on high-alert for drunk drivers and won’t hesitate to give out citations or make arrests for traffic violations.”

In recent years, Arizona officials have steadily increased their numbers during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, sending a message to the public that drunk driving will not be tolerated during the holidays, when approximately 42 percent of traffic fatalities are related to drinking and driving, according to the National Safety Council.

Roads are particularly dangerous after midnight toasts and during the early hours of New Year’s Day, the day of the year with the highest percent of alcohol-related deaths. On New Year’s Day, the percentage of deaths involving a car accident increases by 51 percent.

“If New Year’s Eve festivities end in legal trouble, Valley residents can count on Corso Law Group to provide the defense they need,” Corso said.

Corso Law Group is an experienced team of legal professionals who have handled thousands of Arizona DUI cases. Founder Christopher Corso is a former Maricopa County prosecutor who can help with drunk driving cases as well as other criminal defense needs such as criminal speeding, CDL tickets, photo radar tickets, felony charges, drug possession, weapons possession, violent crimes and more.

Free consultations are available with Corso Law Group by visiting https://corsolawgroup.com or calling (480) 471-4616.

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

Another No Refusal weekend was implemented recently over the Halloween holiday in Texas.  This follows No-Refusal weekends that took place this past Labor Day and Fourth of July.

These No-Refusal weekends are being put into place during holiday weekends that are celebrated heavily by drinking alcohol. During a No Refusal weekend, officers have the right to obtain a warrant allowing them to conduct blood alcohol tests on those they’ve pulled over for DWIs if they’ve refused to comply with a Breathalyzer test.

This initiative continues to be implemented at a time when Texas is experiencing some of the highest DWI rates in the country. The most recent study conducted by MADD revealed that over 15,680 people experienced injuries from alcohol-related accidents and 1,337 died from alcohol-related crashes in 2013.

It’s clear that law enforcement authorities have implemented this policy in order to reduce drunk drivers on the roads and to create a safer environment. Typically, several checkpoints are set up in various parts of the city to assure that drunk drivers are taken off the roads. However, it is crucial to fully understand your rights if you are pulled over for a DWI during a No Refusal period.

As a driver, if you arrive at a checkpoint and are suspected of being intoxicated, an officer might ask that you submit a blood or Breathalyzer test. You then have three options as a response.

• Agree to a blood test
• Agree to a Breathalyzer test
• Reject any type of test

If you reject a test and are suspected of a DWI, it is legal for an officer to detain you until a warrant is obtained, allowing them to force you to provide a blood test.

It’s important to know that if you’re pulled over for a DWI, you should immediately call a criminal defense attorney to lead you through the entire process. At Corso Law Group, we always remind Texans that this contact should be the first step you take if you are ever in this situation.

Upcoming holidays, including New Year’s Eve, are expected to be accompanied by No Refusal initiatives, similar to last year where law enforcement agents administered 14 blood tests and arrested 26 people. With police officers stating that these initiatives are successful, No Refusal weekends are most likely here to stay.

If you are pulled over for a DWI or traffic citation, please contact Corso Law Group immediately at (713) 231-0499.

The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it is also peak season for certain crimes. Corso Law Group has identified the four most common holiday crimes and offers advice on how to protect yourself from falling victim this year.

Drunk Driving

Holiday travel means significantly more people on the roads. This year, AAA predicts 46.9 million Americans will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday alone, which is up from the high of 46.6 million in 2014. This increase, along with holiday drinking and partying over Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, leads to a rise in DUIs and DUI accidents.

Prevent a holiday DUI by being aware of popular drinking holidays, like Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve weekend, and making the proper arrangements to keep yourself and loved ones from getting behind the wheel.

Shoplifting

This time of year, there are countless opportunities for shoplifting with crowded malls and busy store employees. National shoplifting arrests increased by 15 percent in November and December compared to the rest of the year in 2014, and one in 11 Americans has admitted to shoplifting, according to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention.

To protect your business from shoplifters, keep a vigilant eye on your surroundings, especially during busy shopping periods, consider hiring additional, seasonal staff and be sure to install an alarm system.

Identity Theft

With the holiday season being one of the busiest retail periods all year, there are countless opportunities for identity theft both online and in stores. Personal information, including credit card information, social security numbers, names and addresses, can all be at risk during the holidays.

Keep sensitive information safe by regularly checking credit card and bank statements and only shop online using a secure wifi network on websites that include a lock symbol by the url.

Robbery

Leaving a store or mall with an armful of shopping bags is a regular occurrence during the holidays, but it also reads as an opportunity for robbers.

While shopping, keep track of your purchases and don’t leave bags unattended or in plain sight. For example, instead of keeping items in the backseat of your car, where they are easily visible, store purchases in the trunk. It’s a simple way to avoid making yourself a target.

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.

Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday of the year when it comes to drunk driving, according to Corso Law Group.

“Many people incorrectly assume that New Year’s Eve is responsible for the most drunk-driving deaths,” said John M. Rhude, Esq, of Corso Law Group. “In reality, Thanksgiving Day accounts for more fatalities related to DUIs than any other holiday. And because people don’t take it seriously, the fatality statistics continue to remain high.”

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. And a 2010 study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that year’s Thanksgiving holiday to be the most dangerous of the year.

Both Rhude and his founding law partner Christopher P. Corso, Esq. believe many people simply let their guard down during the long Thanksgiving weekend, with the day-long festivities encouraging them to not only drink more, but incorrectly assess how much alcohol they’ve consumed over the course of the holiday.

“And then after all of the meals, these same people get in their car and drive home,” he said. “And with Black Friday shopping sales beginning on Thanksgiving now, that puts a lot of families on the road with drunk drivers.”

Both lawyers know from experience the Arizona DUI arrests 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 – especially on Thanksgiving.”