West Jordan DUI Defense Lawyers

Experienced DUI Defense Attorneys Protecting Drivers in West Jordan, Utah

Utah has set the strictest blood alcohol limit in the country at 0.05, which means a driver can be arrested for drunk driving after drinking far less alcohol than in any other state. A DUI arrest also starts two separate cases against you at the same time: a criminal court case and an administrative case that will affect your driver's license. The second one carries a deadline of only 10 days.

At Collins Rupp, P.C., our West Jordan DUI defense lawyers handle both types of cases. We can examine how the stop and testing were conducted, and we will work to limit what a single night can cost you.

What Utah Must Prove in a DUI Case to Convict

Utah can convict you on one of two theories. The first is the number itself. A chemical test showing that your blood alcohol concentration was 0.05 or higher is enough on its own, regardless of how you were driving.

The second theory requires no number at all. The state may show that alcohol, a drug, or a combination of substances left you unable to operate a vehicle safely. That means a person below 0.05 can still face a DUI charge based on an officer's observations and field sobriety tests.

Both theories depend on evidence that can be challenged. Reasonable suspicion for the stop, the officer's training, whether the breath instrument was properly calibrated, and how blood samples were stored and handled can all affect whether the state's proof holds together.

The License Case Runs on its Own Timeline After a DUI in Salt Lake County

The Driver License Division acts independently of criminal courts. Your criminal case may still be pending months later, but a license suspension may already be in effect.

You must request a hearing with the Division within 10 days of your arrest. If you do not, your driving privileges may be withdrawn about 45 days after the arrest with no hearing at all. Winning in court later will not undo a suspension you never contested.

A first offense at age 21 or older generally brings a 120-day suspension. A second offense that takes place within 10 years brings a two-year revocation. Refusing a chemical test will trigger its own revocation, separate from any DUI conviction.

How DUI Penalties Escalate With Each Offense in Utah

Utah measures prior offenses over a 10-year window, and each additional DUI offense will carry its own mandatory minimum sentence:

• First Offense: Usually a class B misdemeanor, with at least two days in jail or 48 total hours of community service, plus screening and a fine.
• First Extreme DUI: At least five days in jail, or two days plus 30 consecutive days of monitored confinement in your home.
• Second Offense: A class A misdemeanor requiring at least 10 days in jail, or five days plus at least 30 days of monitored confinement in your home.
• Third or Later Offense: A third-degree felony with a possible prison term of up to five years.

Extreme DUI applies when a chemical test shows a BAC of at least 0.16, when a result of 0.05 or higher is combined with any measurable controlled substance, or when two or more controlled substances are present. A first offense also rises to a class A misdemeanor if a passenger under the age of 16 was in the vehicle, if a passenger under the age of 18 was present and you are 21 or older, or if you were driving the wrong way on a one-way highway.

Multiple DUI charges and felony DUI charges both draw on the same prior-conviction history. A felony charge may apply any time after a prior felony DUI conviction, regardless of how long ago it occurred.

Reduced Charges and Other Outcomes

Not every case will end in a DUI conviction. With the prosecutor's agreement, a class B misdemeanor DUI may be entered as impaired driving instead. That reduction can follow a negotiated plea or successful completion of probation, and it will lower the offense by one degree for later purposes.

Whether that option is available will depend on the strength of the state's evidence, your record, and the facts of the stop. Building leverage early, before the first court date, is usually what makes this outcome possible. Charges arising from the same incident often extend into broader criminal defense issues as well, including drug possession and reckless driving.

Contact Our West Jordan, UT DUI Defense Attorneys

At Collins Rupp, P.C., we offer free consultations in person, by phone, or by video conference. We also handle paperwork and payments electronically so your case will not require unnecessary trips to our office. Contact our West Jordan DUI lawyers at 385-777-2753 to discuss your arrest. More than 100 positive reviews reflect our dedication to our clients.