State legislatures have been pressured by the public to provide tougher punishments for DUI convictions. Arizona lawmakers have responded to this pressure by creating an offense known as "super extreme" DUI, with rather extraordinary consequences.

Super extreme DUI offenders are those with a blood alcohol content of .20 percent or higher. The legal limit for drinking and driving in Arizona is .08 percent. Drivers who reach the threshold of .20 receive a minimum of 45 days in jail. Judges do not have discretion to suspend any part of the jail sentence.

Any conviction for DUI results in fines — but those convicted of super extreme DUI face several thousand dollars in fines, in addition to jail costs. Jail costs may be between $70 and $100 per day, which means that a 45-day minimum sentence will likely total between $3000 and $4000. These drivers also face license revocation from 90 days to one year.

All Arizona DUI convictions require offenders to install and maintain an ignition interlock device. These devices require a driver to take and pass a breath test before starting a vehicle. For regular first-time DUI offenses, the minimum period of installation is 12 months after license reinstatement. For super extreme DUI offenders, this time period is extended to 18 months. Installation of an interlock device costs about $100 and maintenance costs are about $80 per month. This adds up to over $1500 to install and maintain the device.

A second super extreme DUI conviction results in even more severe punishments. Any standard DUI offense in Arizona could potentially result in a jail sentence up to 180 days. Those convicted of a second super extreme DUI face a mandatory jail sentence of 180 days. Drivers face a minimum one year license revocation. After this period, the license isn't automatically reinstated — but presuming the driver is able to obtain a license again, they must use and maintain an ignition interlock device for 24 months. This will cost over $2000. This is in addition to the several thousand dollars in fines and jail costs, which could total over $15,000.

Arizona's DUI laws are among the toughest in the country. If you or a loved one has been arrested for drunk driving, contact an attorney to protect your legal rights. An attorney may help you avoid facing serious punishments and other consequences of a DUI conviction.