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ARS 28-1383: Aggravated DUI

ARS 28-1383: Aggravated DUI

Michael Tamou, Arizona criminal defense attorney

Michael Tamou

Founding Attorney · DUI Defense

5.0 · DUI Defense

The complete text of A.R.S. § 28-1383 on aggravated dui, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 4 through 6 felony and exposure reaching up to 3.75 years in prison.

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Michael Tamou, Arizona criminal defense attorney

Michael Tamou

Founding Attorney · DUI Defense

★★★★★ 5.0 · DUI Defense

Written and legally reviewed by Michael Tamou, Founding Attorney of Tamou Law Group, PLLC. Last updated September 4, 2026.

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What the State Must Prove Under § 28-1383

A.R.S. § 28-1383 is the Arizona statute on aggravated dui. The statute sets out 5 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 4 through 6 felony, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 3.75 years in prison.

A. A person is guilty of aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs if the person does any of the following:

  1. Commits a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section while the person’s driver license or privilege to drive is suspended, canceled, revoked or refused or while a restriction is placed on the person’s driver license or privilege to drive as a result of violating section 28-1381 or 28-1382 or under section 28-1385.
  2. Within a period of eighty-four months commits a third or subsequent violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section or is convicted of a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section and has previously been convicted of any combination of convictions of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section.
  3. While a person under fifteen years of age is in the vehicle, commits a violation of either:
  4. While the person is ordered by the court or required pursuant to section 28-3319 by the department to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device, commits a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section.
  5. Commits a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section while driving the wrong way on a highway.

The State must prove every element of the paragraph it actually charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. Which paragraph appears on the complaint decides what the case is about, and it is the first thing to check.

Penalties for a § 28-1383 Conviction

ClassMitigatedMinimumPresumptiveMaximumAggravated
Class 4 felony1 year1.5 years2.5 years3 years3.75 years
Class 6 felony4 months6 months1 year1.5 years2 years

Felony ranges are set by A.R.S. § 13-702(D) and apply to a first felony conviction that is not dangerous and not repetitive. A dangerous offense (§ 13-704), a repetitive offense (§ 13-703) or a dangerous crime against children (§ 13-705) carries a longer range, and some carry mandatory prison with no probation. Misdemeanor maximums come from §§ 13-707 and 13-802; surcharges are added on top of every fine.

Full Text of A.R.S. § 28-1383

A. A person is guilty of aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs if the person does any of the following:

1. Commits a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section while the person’s driver license or privilege to drive is suspended, canceled, revoked or refused or while a restriction is placed on the person’s driver license or privilege to drive as a result of violating section 28-1381 or 28-1382 or under section 28-1385.

2. Within a period of eighty-four months commits a third or subsequent violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section or is convicted of a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section and has previously been convicted of any combination of convictions of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section.

3. While a person under fifteen years of age is in the vehicle, commits a violation of either:

(a) Section 28-1381.

(b) Section 28-1382.

4. While the person is ordered by the court or required pursuant to section 28-3319 by the department to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device, commits a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section.

5. Commits a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section while driving the wrong way on a highway.

B. The dates of the commission of the offenses are the determining factor in applying the eighty-four month provision provided in subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section regardless of the sequence in which the offenses were committed. For the purposes of this section, a third or subsequent violation for which a conviction occurs does not include a conviction for an offense arising out of the same series of acts. The time that a probationer is found to be on absconder status or the time that a person is incarcerated in any state, federal, county or city jail or correctional facility is excluded when determining the eighty-four month period provided in subsection A, paragraph 2 and subsection E of this section.

C. The notice to a person of the suspension, cancellation, revocation or refusal of a driver license or privilege to drive is effective as provided in section 28-3318 or pursuant to the laws of the state issuing the license.

D. A person is not eligible for probation, pardon, commutation or suspension of sentence or release on any other basis until the person has served not less than four months in prison if the person is convicted under any of the following:

1. Subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section.

2. Subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section and within an eighty-four month period has been convicted of two prior violations of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section, or any combination of those sections, or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section.

3. Subsection A, paragraph 5 of this section.

E. A person who is convicted under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section and who within an eighty-four month period has been convicted of three or more prior violations of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section, or any combination of those sections, or acts in another jurisdiction that if committed in this state would be a violation of section 28-1381, section 28-1382 or this section is not eligible for probation, pardon, commutation or suspension of sentence or release on any other basis until the person has served not less than eight months in prison.

F. A person who is convicted under subsection A, paragraph 3, subdivision (a) of this section shall serve at least the minimum term of incarceration required pursuant to section 28-1381.

G. A person who is convicted under subsection A, paragraph 3, subdivision (b) of this section shall serve at least the minimum term of incarceration required pursuant to section 28-1382.

H. A person who is convicted of a violation of this section shall attend and complete alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment from an approved facility. If the person fails to comply with this subsection and is placed on probation, in addition to the provisions of section 13-901 the court may order that the person be incarcerated as a term of probation as follows:

1. For a person sentenced pursuant to subsection D of this section, for an individual period of not more than four months and a total period of not more than one year.

2. For a person sentenced pursuant to subsection E of this section, for an individual period of not more than eight months and a total period of not more than two years.

I. The time that a person spends in custody pursuant to subsection H of this section shall not be counted towards the sentence imposed if the person’s probation is revoked and the person is sentenced to prison after revocation of probation.

J. On a conviction for a violation of this section, the court:

1. Shall report the conviction to the department. On receipt of the report, the department shall revoke the driving privilege of the person. The department shall not issue the person a new driver license within one year of the date of the conviction and, if the violation involved intoxicating liquor, shall require the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device pursuant to section 28-3319. In addition, the court may order the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device for more than twenty-four months beginning on the date the person successfully completes the alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment program requirements of this title and the person is otherwise eligible to reinstate the person’s driver license or driving privilege. The person who operates a motor vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device under this paragraph shall comply with article 5 of this chapter.

2. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of $250. If the conviction occurred in the superior court or a justice court, the court shall transmit the monies received pursuant to this paragraph to the county treasurer. If the conviction occurred in a municipal court, the court shall transmit the monies received pursuant to this paragraph to the city treasurer. The city or county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall deposit the monies received in the driving under the influence abatement fund established by section 28-1304. Any fine imposed for a violation of this section and any assessments, restitution and incarceration costs shall be paid before the assessment prescribed in this paragraph.

3. Shall order the person to pay a fine of not less than $750.

4. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of $1,500 to be deposited by the state treasurer in the prison construction and operations fund established by section 41-1651. This assessment is not subject to any surcharge. If the conviction occurred in the superior court or a justice court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the county treasurer. If the conviction occurred in a municipal court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the city treasurer. The city or county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer.

5. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of $1,500 to be deposited by the state treasurer in the public safety equipment fund established by section 41-1723. This assessment is not subject to any surcharge. If the conviction occurred in the superior court or a justice court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the county treasurer. If the conviction occurred in a municipal court, the court shall transmit the assessed monies to the city treasurer. The city or county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer.

K. On conviction for a violation of this section the defendant shall be required by the department to attend and successfully complete an approved traffic survival school course.

L. After completing the period of suspension required by section 28-1385, a person whose driving privilege is revoked for a violation of subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section may apply to the department for a special ignition interlock restricted driver license pursuant to section 28-1401.

M. The court may order a person who is convicted of a violation of this section that does not involve intoxicating liquor to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device pursuant to section 28-3319. On receipt of the report of conviction and certified ignition interlock device requirement, the department shall require the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device pursuant to section 28-3319. In addition, the court may order the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device for more than twelve months beginning on the date the person successfully completes the alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment program requirements of this title and the person is otherwise eligible to reinstate the person’s driver license or driving privilege. The person who operates a motor vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device under this subsection shall comply with article 5 of this chapter.

N. The sheriff of a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons may establish an aggravated driving under the influence jail program. If the sheriff establishes an aggravated driving under the influence jail program, the program may not be implemented until the state department of corrections enters into an agreement with the county board of supervisors pursuant to section 31-234 to facilitate the program. Notwithstanding subsections D and E of this section, if the violation occurs in a county that has established and implemented an aggravated driving under the influence jail program or in a county that is contiguous to a county that has established and implemented an aggravated driving under the influence jail program and the person is placed on probation, the mandatory term of incarceration that the person would otherwise serve in prison may be served in the jail of the county that established and implemented the program. A person who is incarcerated in a county jail pursuant to this subsection is not eligible for any release, work detail or monitoring program that the person would not otherwise be eligible for if incarcerated in prison. A county sheriff who establishes an aggravated driving under the influence jail program pursuant to this subsection shall submit an annual report to the Arizona criminal justice commission that contains the data that the Arizona statistical analysis center determines is necessary to prepare a recidivism report pursuant to section 41-2405.

O. Aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs committed under:

1. Subsection A, paragraph 1, 2, 4 or 5 of this section is a class 4 felony.

2. Subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section is a class 6 felony.

P. For the purposes of this section:

1. “Suspension, cancellation, revocation or refusal” means any suspension, cancellation, revocation or refusal.

2. “Wrong way” means vehicular movement that is in a direction opposing the legal flow of traffic. Wrong way does not include median crossing or a collision where a motor vehicle comes to a stop facing the wrong way.

Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-1383, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/20/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.

Our Guides on This Charge

Written by our defense team on how these cases run in Arizona courts.

How Tamou Law Group Defends § 28-1383 Cases

A § 28-1383 case is decided by the paragraph the State charged, not by the statute as a whole. We start with the charging document and the disclosure, identify which subsection the prosecutor has to prove, and test whether the evidence actually reaches every element of it. Where the class turns on a fact such as value, an alleged injury, a prior conviction or the identity of the person involved, that fact is frequently the difference between a class 4 through 6 felony and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.

We handle aggravated dui cases across Maricopa County and statewide, from our Scottsdale and Phoenix offices. Call 623-321-4699 any time, or read the statute in full above before you speak to anyone about the case.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A.R.S. § 28-1383?

A.R.S. § 28-1383 is the Arizona statute on aggravated dui. A violation is a class 4 through 6 felony, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.

Is a violation of § 28-1383 a felony in Arizona?

Yes. Under the statute a violation is a class 4 through 6 felony, so the exposure reaches up to 3.75 years in prison. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.

What is the sentence for a class 4 felony in Arizona?

For a first felony conviction that is not dangerous or repetitive, A.R.S. 13-702(D) sets a class 4 felony at 1 year to 3.75 years, with a presumptive term of 2.5 years. Dangerous, repetitive and dangerous-crimes-against-children sentencing under 13-703, 13-704 and 13-705 runs longer.

Where can I read the official text of § 28-1383?

The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/20/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.

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