If a DUI suspect has a passenger under the age of 15, what additional charge may apply?

When a DUI suspect has a passenger under the age of 15, the circumstance can elevate the seriousness of the offense. In Arizona, this situation can lead to an additional charge of Aggravated DUI. The inclusion of a minor as a passenger demonstrates a heightened level of risk to public safety, which is taken very seriously by law enforcement and the judicial system.

Aggravated DUI specifically refers to situations that pose a greater threat to safety, and having a child in the vehicle during a DUI incident exemplifies such a risk. This charge indicates not just the act of driving under the influence, but also that the driver’s actions endangered the well-being of a vulnerable individual, heightening the penalties associated with the DUI offense.

The other charges listed, while relevant in other contexts, do not specifically apply to the child being present in relation to the DUI charge in this scenario. For example, while DUI and Extreme DUI are serious offenses, they do not convey the additional layer of endangerment associated with carrying a minor passenger, which is what Aggravated DUI effectively addresses. Child Endangerment is a serious charge in its own right, but in this specific context, Aggravated DUI is the more applicable charge when the criteria of having a minor passenger