Vehicular Crimes Bureau

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office Vehicular Crimes Bureau prosecutes crimes involving motor vehicle collisions and incidents in which drivers are found to be driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medication (DUI). The bureau also prosecutes drivers who illegally leave the scene of injury accidents and collisions.

In addition to participating in DUI task forces, attorneys in the Vehicular Crimes Bureau are on call 24/7 to assist law enforcement officers with fatal accident scene investigations. The bureau also has a dedicated repeat offender program aimed at keeping drivers with multiple DUI offenses off the roads.

The bureau reviews 3,000 to 4,000 cases a year, assigning upwards of 1,300 for prosecution. Arizona has some of the toughest impaired driving laws in the country, with many types of first-time offenses punishable by mandatory jail time. Serious or repeat offenses can result in significant incarceration time, the suspension or revocation of driving privileges, as well as mandatory interlock devices that prevent someone from operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Avoiding these consequences is simple: don't drink and drive, and don't leave the scene of an accident.

Drunk Driver Kills Two

The Ford family was torn apart by a drunk driver. This is their story. [5:42]