Phoenix Arizona (AZ) Limousine Service

Drinking and driving in Arizona recently got more expensive with penalties and fines. Of course the ultimate penalty would be to pay with your life or somebody else’s life!

I recently was forwarded the following email from somebody who went to an YPO presentation regarding DUI’s and the new Arizona laws. At the presentation she heard from two highway patrol officers, a prominent DUI attorney and then a public relations firm. The police officers went through the new punishments and BAC (blood alcohol content) thresholds that were just passed. They also demonstrated to a sober person what happens when you do get pulled over for a DUI.

My assessment is the new DUI rules have significantly changed the risk reward decision about drinking a few drinks and then driving. The main changes is they have significantly lowered the BAC (blood alcohol content) thresholds.

I used to think that it was no problem to have a couple of drinks with dinner and then drive home. The new lower BAC are now so low that someone who is a good citizen and just has two drinks has a lot of risk.

The thresholds and punishments for first time DUI offenses are as follows (second time offenses are drastically worse):

Standard DUI: BAC over 0.08 (three drinks for most men and two drinks for most women)
a. Mandatory jail time of 10 days - No plea bargaining (second offense - 30 to 90 days)
b. Mandatory suspension of driver’s license for 90 days (second offense - one year)
c. Mandatory installation of ignition interlock device in car for one year (Cost: $1,000 plus $100 per month)
d. Court fees - $1,500 (second offense - $3,000), points, increased insurance, attorney fees, etc.

Extreme DUI: BAC over 0.15
a. Mandatory jail time of 30 days - No plea bargaining (second offense - 60 to 120 days)
b. Mandatory suspension of driver’s license for 90 days (second offense - one year)
c. Mandatory installation of ignition interlock device in car for one year (Cost: $1,000 plus $100 per month)
d. Mandatory alcohol monitoring - 30 days (second offense - 90 days plus 30 days of community service)
e. Mandatory vehicle impoundment - 30 days
f. Court fees - $2,500 (second offense - $5,000), points, increased insurance, attorney fees, etc.

Super Extreme DUI: BAC over 0.20
a. Mandatory jail time of 45 days - No plea bargaining (second offense - 180 days)
b. Mandatory suspension of driver’s license for 90 days (second offense - one year)
c. Mandatory installation of ignition interlock device in car for 18 to 24 months (Cost: $1,000 plus $100 per month)
d. Mandatory alcohol monitoring - 30 days (second offense - 90 days plus 30 days of community service)
e. Mandatory vehicle impoundment - 30 days
f. Probation - 0 to 1 year (second offense - 0 to 5 years)
g. Court fees - $3,000 (second offense - $6,000), points, increased insurance, attorney fees, etc.

Felony DUI - 0.08 or above but with a MINOR in the car less than 16 years old
a. Felony charge
b. Mandatory jail time of 30 days - No plea bargaining
c. Suspended driver’s license for three years
d. Ignition interlock device - Installed in car for 18 months or possible loss of car ($1,000 plus $100 per month)
e. Fees (up to $150,000), points, increased insurance, attorney fees, etc.
f. Possible probation for up to 5 years

Note: If a person under 21 is pulled over and they have had ANY alcohol (even the day before they turn 21), they would be subject to the above rules plus will lose their drivers license for a minimum of two years with no plea bargain available and it will be on their record for 7 years.

Other facts:

This BAC is not affected by whether a person can handle alcohol. It is a chemical formula based on your blood content, not how you act.

a. A person can get a DUI with lower than 0.08 BAC if they fail the field sobriety test
b. The BAC is at it highest 2 hours after the last drink is taken. The BAC will not start going down until 2 hours after the last drink (i.e. stalling at the police station will probably not help).
c. The police officer said that they are starting to see a very high incidence of woman DUI after social lunches.
d. The most common infraction people are pulled over for, especially at night, is the wide left or right turn
e. When the police department has a DUI task force in place in an area, they will basically pull everyone over that is driving through the area (i.e. regardless of whether a driver did something wrong). If they do not smell alcohol on your breath, they will give the driver a verbal warning. If they smell alcohol, they will say you were weaving.

The message they are sending is to not to drink and drive, have a designated driver or take a car service home if you have been drinking (regardless of how far you are from home). Also, never have even one drink if you will be driving with a person under 16 years old in your car. The biggest other must is to have the phone number of a chauffeured transportation company - riding in a limousine, sedan or SUV is so much better than a police car or ambulance! In The Scene Limousine 602-996-LIMO (5466).

It started with an Auto Trader Magazine and an idea to start a business. Something profitable. Something fun. James and I (In The Scene Limousine’s two owners) were sitting around trying to brainstorm business ideas. And we saw it - a used 10 passenger Lincoln limousine. I think it was pretty inexpensive - under $20,000. But once the ideas started flowing we thought a party-bus would be the way to go because then we would be able to fit a larger party. (Little did we know at the time that the larger vehicle would ALSO require a $5 million commercial auto policy instead of the $1.5 million standard with regular-size limousines. Of course at a much bigger premium - especially for a brand new company.

So we found our little black party bus in September 2004. And we had in converted with all-sorts of the coolest items. Fog machine, 27″ TV, thumping sound system - stripper pole (or as we later called it ‘entertainer pole’). We were so excited and nervous to get the first few calls from the 944 magazine ad we placed in late 2004. Then the Bridal Show - watching three generations of women swinging around on the entertainer pole.

It is a fun business - challenging but fun. Dealing with mechanical vehicles that break down - right at the worst moment. Before we used to be out in the party scene right along with our clients. Now we stay sober and awake for that emergency call - especially on Friday and Saturday nights for an emergency tire change, fix a door, help a chauffeur know what to do with overly intoxicated passengers. There have been plenty of events we have left to seamlessly serve our clients and make sure their nights/events/special occasions go well.

Our new challenge is to diversify our fleet and attract more corporate accounts. This is the bread and butter of chauffeured transportation companies. And we have incredibly GREAT chauffeurs who need more work Sunday-Thursday. We have 5 non-stretch vehicles and great pricing for airport transportation or transfers when people have enjoyed too many cocktails.

Check back every few days for more blogs on owning a limousine and chauffeured transportation company and the challenges and joys it brings to In The Scene Limousine owners and staff! We will also discuss tips and ideas to help clients plan their events with creative ideas on parties, travel, and so on!

In The Scene Limousine recently delivered contribution checks to the Phoenix, Arizona Make-A-Wish and MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) offices in their newest black Hummer limousine. “Our clients were able to select which great organization – Make-A-Wish or MADD to contribute to and we set aside 5% of the reservation to give to these two wonderful causes” said James Romero III, partner/owner of In The Scene Limousine a Phoenix-based chauffeured transportation company.

“We feel it is important to give-back to the community we do business in and both Make-A-Wish and MADD are close to our hearts” said Mr. Romero III. In The Scene Limousine has participated in a few “wishes” of sick children providing complimentary limousine service as part of their wish.

“Chauffeured transportation is great alternative if you are going to enjoy alcoholic beverages - our mission is closely aligned with MADD’s primary mission - which is to eliminate the tragedy of drunk driving” continues Romero. In The Scene Limousine makes it affordable and fun for Arizona residents to ride in a sedan, SUV, limo or party bus rather than an ambulance or police car.

Contact In The Scene Limousine at 602-996-5466 or online at www.InTheSceneLimousine.com to reserve your safe, affordable chauffeured transportation for all your needs – airport rides, nights on the town, corporate events and more.

Welcome to Phoenix Arizona (AZ) Limousine, In The Scene Limousine Inc.