(520) 462-5110
Last Updated: 2/23/2026
Remain silent, refuse field tests, and request an attorney immediately. Our firm prioritizes early intervention to protect professionals from Arizona’s strict mandatory minimums.
Step 1: Pull Over Safely and Stay Calm
Pull your vehicle over to a safe location as soon as you see police lights. Turn off the engine, roll down your window, and place your hands on the steering wheel to show the officer you are compliant. Being polite is helpful, but you are not required to answer questions about where you have been or how much you have had to drink.
Step 2: Know Which Tests You Can Refuse
You have the legal right to refuse field sobriety tests, such as the horizontal gaze nystagmus or the one-leg stand. Arizona law does not penalize you for declining these physical agility exercises at the roadside. These tests are often subjective and used to build a case against you.
Step 3: Understand the Implied Consent Law
Arizona Implied Consent Law requires you to submit to a certified breath or blood test after a lawful arrest. Refusing this post-arrest test results in an automatic 12-month driver license suspension. Our team frequently sees clients confused by this distinction, so we recommend asserting your right to an attorney before making this decision.
Step 4: Exercise Your Right to an Attorney
Tell the officer clearly that you want to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions or submitting to chemical testing. Tamara Mulembo and her team use their experience as former prosecutors to intervene before the state formalizes its case. Early legal advice is the most effective way to preserve evidence that might disappear later.
Step 5: Prepare for Potential Penalties
Arizona has some of the harshest DUI laws in the country for first-time offenders. A conviction can lead to the following consequences:
- Mandatory jail time ranging from 1 to 10 days for most first offenses
- Fines and surcharges exceeding 1,500 dollars
- Installation of a certified ignition interlock device
- Mandatory alcohol screening and treatment
- A permanent criminal record that affects professional licensing
Step 6: Choose a Trial-Tested Advocate
Select an attorney who is ready to take your case to a jury if the prosecution refuses a fair resolution. Tamara Mulembo is a trial-tested advocate who trains other lawyers nationwide on defense strategies. We focus on high-stakes cases for professionals who need a creative and aggressive defense in Tucson and across Southern Arizona.
Start Your Defense Today
Contact Mulembo Law PLLC at 520-462-5110 to discuss your DUI arrest with an experienced Tucson criminal defense lawyer. We offer free consultations for criminal matters to help you understand your options immediately. Our goal is to protect your rights and work toward a dismissal or reduction of charges.
