Ralph Freso
DUI enforcement
Gilbert police process and fingerprint a driver arrested for alleged DUI at the East Valley DUI Task Force staging area outside the Southeast Superior Court facility in Mesa on St. Patricks Day. March 17, 2010. (File photo)
Lenny Ignelzi/The Associated Press
DUI checkpoint
In this Dec. 16, 2011 photo a police officer checks a driver's
license at a sobriety check point in Escondido, Calif. (AP
Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Ralph Freso
DUI enforcement
An East Valley DUI task force processes and fingerprints a driver arrested for alleged DUI in 2010. (File photo)
Posted: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 6:08 pm
|
Updated: 6:58 pm, Tue Feb 19, 2013.
Those accused of drunk driving may regain right to jury trial
By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
East Valley Tribune
|
Arizonans accused of drunk driving would regain their right to a jury trial under terms of legislation approved Tuesday by the House.
The 57-3 vote reverses last year’s legislation which said cases of simple drunk driving — those charged with having a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 but have not been convicted before — could be heard by a justice of the peace. That change took effect Jan. 1.
Rep. David Smith, R-Scottsdale, argued last year’s change never really was properly discussed, saying it was tacked on to another bill. Smith also said lawmakers should repeal the change because it may be unconstitutional.
Last year’s law did not affect the right to a trial by jury for those charged with “extreme’’ DUI, meaning a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.15. The bill now goes to the Senate.
More about Jury
Posted in
Local,
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on
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 6:08 pm.
Updated: 6:58 pm.
| Tags:
Driving Under The Influence,
Blood Alcohol Content,
Jury,
Law_crime,
Drunk Driving,
David Smith,
House,
Jury Trial,
Senate
Juggernaut8000 posted at 11:38 am on Sat, Mar 10, 2012.
I'm sure the court will assess a fee for this. It's all about money when it comes to the judicial system.
DrJCA1 posted at 10:09 pm on Tue, Mar 6, 2012.
Perhaps juries will fine the krap out of these ignorant and immature fools who drive while impaired. If you cannot drive like a responsible adult, then you should have to walk.
Rich posted at 8:49 pm on Tue, Mar 6, 2012.
The only trial is by jury, because it judges the law equally with the accused.