How tough are the laws when someone gets a DUI in Phoenix? I remember a few years ago reading in the New York Times, how New York state planned on increasing the penalties for a drunk driving conviction in New York.  This was in response to an accident in which a drunk mother went in the Holland tunnel the wrong way and killed a number of children, all because she was driving drunk.  The thing that caught my attention was the fact the New York Times was stating that with the new laws, New York state would have some of the most severe drunk driving laws in America.  That caught my attention because the severe reforms New York was considering had already been the law for Arizona DUI cases for at least a decade. 

Among other things, Arizona is one of the few states that requires at least 24 hours in jail for any drunk driving conviction.  That means that even if you have a pristine driving record and have had any sort of traffic violation or criminal conviction in your life, speeding tickets, parking tickets, anything at all, and you are convicted of a DUI, you will go to prison for at least 24 hours. 

For example, former baseball player Mark Grace was just recently arrested for a DUI. 

Diamondbacks television announcer Mark Grace was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Memorial Day.

The Scottsdale police report says Grace, 46, was stopped by an officer shortly after 1 a.m. on May 30 after he made a wide right turn from 71st Place onto Shea Boulevard and was weaving within his lane.

If the city of Scottsdale convicts Mr. Grace of a DUI, that means despite Mr. Grace's fame, clean driving record, and publicity, he will do at least 24 hours in custody.  And 24 hours means exactly that: 24 hours.  If you have served 23 hours before release, that would not qualify as time served 24 hours because it was not a full 24 hours.  Defendants who are convicted of a misdemeanor DUI usually serve the sentence in Tent City; but some other locations include Glendale city jail for Glendale DUI defendants, Scottsdale city jail for all Maricopa County DUI defendants, and Tempe City jail for Tempe DUI defendants.   Phoenix DUI defendants serve their jail time at Tent City.