FLAGSTAFF DUI DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Aggressive, Local Defense for DUI Charges in Coconino County

Driving under the influence charges in Flagstaff move fast. Judges expect quick decisions. Prosecutors push for harsh penalties. And the consequences — jail, license suspension, ignition interlock, insurance spikes — can reshape a person’s life overnight. You deserve a defense attorney who knows the law, knows the courts, and knows how to protect you.

I defend people facing DUI charges throughout Flagstaff, Coconino County, and Northern Arizona. My approach is simple: investigate everything, challenge everything, and never let the State take shortcuts with your rights.

Understanding DUI Charges in Arizona

Arizona has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. Even a first‑time offense carries mandatory jail time.

Common DUI charges include:

Standard DUI: BAC of 0.08 or more
Extreme DUI: BAC of 0.15 or more
Super Extreme DUI: BAC of 0.20 or more
Drug DUI: Any amount of a prohibited drug or its metabolite
Aggravated DUI: Felony DUI (license suspended, child in car, third DUI, etc.)

Each level increases mandatory jail, fines, interlock requirements, and license consequences.

Penalties You May Be Facing

Penalties depend on the charge, prior history, and facts of the case. Even a first‑time DUI can include:

Mandatory jail
License suspension
Ignition interlock device
Thousands in fines and fees
Alcohol classes
Probation
Criminal record

Felony DUIs carry prison exposure, long‑term license revocation, and collateral consequences that affect employment, housing, and professional licensing.

How I Defend DUI Cases

A DUI charge is not a conviction. The State must prove every element, and DUI investigations are full of weak points. I focus on the details that prosecutors hope you never question.

1. Challenging the Traffic Stop

Did the officer have reasonable suspicion
Was the stop pretextual
Did the officer extend the stop without legal justification

If the stop was unlawful, the entire case may be suppressed.

2. Attacking Field Sobriety Tests

These tests are subjective, poorly administered, and often misinterpreted. I examine:

Whether instructions were clear
Whether the officer followed NHTSA standards
Whether medical or environmental factors affected performance

3. Exposing Breath‑Test Problems

The Intoxilyzer 9000 — Arizona’s breath machine — has known issues:

Calibration and accuracy problems
Variance of ±0.020
Operator error
Mouth alcohol contamination
Temperature and physiological factors

I obtain maintenance logs, calibration records, and operator certifications to challenge the reliability of the result.

4. Investigating Blood Testing

Blood testing is not infallible. I look for:

Chain‑of‑custody errors
Improper storage
Lab contamination
Incorrect vial preservatives
Faulty gas chromatography procedures

5. Negotiating or Fighting at Trial

Some cases should be dismissed. Some should be reduced. Some should go to trial. I give you a clear strategy based on the evidence, not fear or pressure.

What Makes My Approach Different

Local experience with Flagstaff PD, DPS, NAUPD, and Coconino County Sheriff investigations
Courtroom‑ready advocacy — I don’t plead cases out just to move them
Statute‑driven analysis that exposes overreach and sloppy police work
Direct communication — you work with your attorney, not a case manager
Aggressive motions practice (Rule 20, suppression motions, Daubert challenges)

You deserve a defense that treats your case like it matters — because it does.

What To Do After a DUI Arrest

Taking the right steps early can protect your license and your case:

Write down everything you remember about the stop
Don’t talk to police or investigators
Don’t assume the breath or blood test is accurate
Request an MVD hearing quickly — deadlines are short
Contact a defense attorney before making any decisions

Serving Clients Throughout Northern Arizona

I represent clients in:

Flagstaff
Coconino County
Williams
Page
Sedona
Northern Arizona University (NAU) cases

Contact a Flagstaff DUI Lawyer

If you’re facing a DUI charge, you don’t have to navigate this alone. I’ll review your case, explain your options, and build a defense tailored to your situation.

Call today to schedule a consultation.

IF ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES SUCH AS A DUI, YOU WILL NEED AN EXPERIENCED FLAGSTAFF DUI ATTORNEY TO DEFEND YOUR CASE.

Great 4th Amendment analysis on medical blood draws during a DUI investigation. Read here why the Arizona Court of Appeals require the police to get a warrant.

– A DUI HAS CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONSEQUENCES, Flagstaff DUI attorney David Bednar will defend you in both matters.

CIVIL. Although most people are concerned about the criminal consequences of a DUI, the motor vehicle division (ADOT/MVD) will initiate proceedings against your license as well. You are entitled to an administrative hearing when you have been cited for a DUI. It is important to have an attorney represent you in this type of civil matter as you will be facing a suspension no matter the outcome of the criminal proceeding.

A person cited for DUI usually faces a 90 day license suspension. After the first 30 days, the person can apply for a restricted license for the remaining 60 days so that they can drive to work and school.

In some cases, a person will face a year long license suspension if they refused to provide a sample of breath or blood after the arrest.

CRIMINAL. Depending on the amount of alcohol in your system, the penalty varies in Arizona for a DUI conviction.

As a DUI attorney, and after successfully defending DUI cases for over 20 years, I advise people to never perform the field sobriety tests requested by the police, they are designed to make you fail!

MARIJUANA DUI: A Marijuana DUI is difficult to prove in Arizona as there are no scientific tests that prove impairment. I recently won a Marijuana DUI trial after the DPS criminalist admitted that THC blood concentrations alone do not establish impairment.

In fact, The District Attorney’s Association has stated that there is no widely accepted correlation between THC drug concentration in blood and a corresponding level of driving impairment among the scientific community.

TOP 10 DO’S AND DONT’S WHEN STOPPED FOR DUI:

Do provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance.
Do get out of the vehicle if asked by the officer.
Do be polite with the police officer.
Do ask to speak with an attorney, before you agree to any testing of breath or blood, if you are arrested.
Do not admit to consuming alcohol or drugs.
Do not perform any of the roadside tests for the officer.
Do not blow in a portable breath device on the side of the road.
Do not let the officer perform any tests on your eyes.
Do not consent to a search of you or your vehicle.
Do ask to be released to obtain an independent blood sample from a hospital.

POSSIBLE DUI DEFENSES:

An illegal stop by the officer. (The officer had no legal reason to stop your vehicle).
The officer failed to allow you to speak with an attorney.
The officer conducted an improper deprivation period.
The breath machine was not calibrated properly.
The officer provided false information when he obtained a warrant for your blood.

An experienced DUI lawyer like David Bednar will search through your case to find any mistakes that were made by the police. The majority of DUI defenses are discovered during the stop, arrest, and testing phases of the police encounter.