Scottsdale DUI Attorney Definitive Guide

How Are Scottsdale DUI Cases Different from Other Dui Cases?

To start, the Scottsdale Police Department is very aggressive when it comes to DUI enforcement. Sometimes they are so aggressive that there is a danger of a rush to judgment. There is objective evidence demonstrating many people have been accused of DUI in Scottsdale and it was subsequently determined they were innocent.

The Scottsdale Police Department is one of the few law enforcement agencies that require a person suspected of DUI to perform both an intoxilyzer breath test and also provide a blood sample. 

More news about Scottsdale City Prosecutor’s Office: Fired Scottsdale Prosecutor Sues City

How Many DUI Cases Does the Scottsdale City Court Handle Each Year?

Scottsdale police make a significant amount of DUI arrest each year. To give you an idea of the volume of DUI cases that are prosecuted in this court let’s look at 2018. According to the Scottsdale City Court’s 2018 Annual Report, 14,763 criminal matters filed: 434 were DUI cases.

Does the Scottsdale City Court Make a Profit?

Accordingly to a 2016 study by the Goldwater Institute, not only does court have a net revenue, it’s actually one of the top-earning courts in Arizona. The Scottsdale City Court’s Revenue was: $7,766,086, but the court’s expenses were a mere $4,742,649 in comparison. As a result, the court had a net profit of approximately $3,000,000.00.

Does the Scottsdale Police Department Have DUI Quotas?

They will tell you no, but…

I discovered this by chance during a jury trial. Instead of using the word “quota” they call it a SMART Goal. As you can see from the above screenshot taken from a Scottsdale City Counsel Quarterly Report, the Scottsdale Police Department has a SMART goal 2400 DUI arrest per year.

They also have a goal to have 70% of those arrested to be of non-Scottsdale residents. Why would arresting more people, who don’t live in Scottsdale but commit the crime of DUI there, the make the city safer? (I live in Scottsdale and this statistic definitely does not make me feel safer).

Why Is My DUI in Scottsdale City Court and Not a Justice Court?

Most DUI arrests in Scottsdale are processed and prosecuted in the Scottsdale City Court. The deciding factor that determines what court your case will be sent is which police department makes the arrest.

When an officer makes an arrest they have discretion to submit to the case to any court that have jurisdiction. In Scottsdale there are two possible court. The Scottsdale City court or the West Mesa Justice Court (the name is misleading).

Does the Scottsdale Court Permit an Out-Of-State Resident to Resolve a DUI without Returning to Arizona?

It is legally possible for a person arrested for DUI who was merely visiting Scottsdale to resolve their case without returning to Arizona. However, this is a very fact-specific issue.

Why Didn’t the Officer Read Me My Miranda Rights until The Investigation Was Almost Over?

Scottsdale is one of the only police departments in Arizona that will wait until the entire DUI investigation is almost completed – to inform you of your legal rights. Their standard practice is to inform you of your right to consult with a lawyer after obtaining your consent to a chemical test.

Does the Scottsdale City Court Have a Way to Look up Information on A Dui Case up Online?

Yes. However, a word of caution – the court’s online system is not always correct and there are often delays between when the court (or law enforcement) makes a decision and when it posted online. Here is a link Scottsdale City Court’s CASE SEARCH. 

Do Scottsdale Police Officers Have Body Cameras that Record Video? 

Yes. In 2017, the Scottsdale Police Department announced they would be switching to the Axon Flex 2 body camera.

According to Scottsdale Police Department Policy officer are required to activate their “on-body camera” (OBC) to record all citizen contacts when performing their official duties. However, the videos they provide often are muted or edited. If a criminal defense attorney wants to see if this has occurred then they might be able to obtain metadata from the recording software.

The Scottsdale Police Department has started to acknowledge some of the problems that have arisen since officers have started using on-body cameras. 

Scottsdale Jury Duty

The Scottsdale City Court contracts with Maricopa County Superior Court to handle the process of sending jury duty summonses to potential jurors by mail. Effective June 30, 2020, the Scottsdale City Counsel will extend their contract with the Superior court another two-years.

Once a person receives a summons for jury duty and appears, the process of selecting which jurors in the “pool” will actually sit to decide a case is called voir dire. During this process the prosecutor and the criminal defense attorney will select the people that will actually hear the case.

Court Contact Information

Wondering "How do I get to the Scottsdale City Court?" Or maybe, "How to contact the Scottsdale court?"

Address: 3700 N 75th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Phone: (480) 312-2442

Fax: 480-312-2764

Email: court@scottsdaleaz.gov

Website: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov

Scottsdale Police Officers on the Brady List 

The United States Supreme Court, in the case of Brady v. Maryland, held that the government must disclose to the defense all evidence that is favorable or may exonerate a defendant. As a result, prosecution officers have created so called “Brady Lists” identifying officers that have demonstrated dishonesty through their conduct. Under Brady, the government must disclose exculpatory evidence to a criminal defense lawyer even without a request.

Search Arizona's Brady List