Colorado DUI Law Summary Part I

The penalty for a drunk driving conviction can be a lot more than loss of your driver's license and probation - All dui convictions in Colorado become part of the permanent public record and can effect you chances for a new job or prevent you from joining the military! If you are concerned about your future call 1.877.362.9091 now for a free telephone consultation by an experience DUI lawyer.

Are you facing your first DUI or DUID offense in Colorado? Perhaps this is your second or third DUI and you are wondering if its worth hiring a Colorado DUI lawyer. Despite what your friends may have told you, this is not an area of the law where do-it-yourself fixes work well. Under the new law, effective July 1, 2010, all defendants convicted of a third or subsequent alcohol related driving offense face 60 days mandatory jail - without possibility of electronic home monitoring! Everyone contemplating showing up at court and just taking the District Attorney's offer should know, of all the people in the world, the District Attorney is not your friend. The DA handling your case will get pay raises and job promotings based upon the number of convictions he or she can get. The more serious the crime that the DA can get you to plead guilty to the better it is for him. Under these circumstances why would the DA handling your case be interested in treating you fairly?

Similarly, if you are facing a driver's license revocation you should know that the DMV Hearing Section isn't at all interested in how you'll get to work or care for your kids without a driver's license. One supervisor at DMV is alleged to have said to co-workers that she enjoyed revoking drivers licenses because it made her feel powerful! The bottom line is that representing yourself in a DUI is not always the cheapest and easiest way to deal with the criminal justice system.

If you are facing a jail sentence its wise to hire an experienced DUI attorney to help you through the process. There are so many pitfalls involved in defending against a drunk driving charge that you need competent help from a Colorado attorney to insure that your rights are protected. I started DUI-Advisor in 1998 as a way of informing the public about ways to successfully defend against a Colorado DUI. Since then DUI-Advisor has grown from a single page into a substantial resource for anyone seeking generic advice on a drunk driving or DUID charge.

As of July 1, 2010 the Colorado General Assembly has revised the miniumum penalties for a DWAI, DUI or DUID conviction upwards. Most notable about the changes are removal of the in-home detention option for many repeat offenses. For more information see Colorado DUI Penalties

Colorado's dui enforcement is about the most brutal in the United States. If you drink even one beer or a glass of wine with dinner you can't be sure that you won't be arrested for an alcohol related driving offense. Since the 1980's state and local governments have discovered that DUI arrests are an excellent way to generate revenue. Pushed by special interest groups and a desire of local governments to increase "revenue," the national "legal limit" has crept steadily lower. Accordingly, police look for any excuse to pull over drivers during hours when people are likely to be driving after having consumed alcohol. In addition police agencies in most districts have adopted policies of stopping as many people as possible as a general crime fighting measure. These policies mean that many people are stopped without the minimum "reasonable suspicion" - the police simply make up a reason to stop them! These tactics can result in an unfair violation of your constitutional rights unless you know how to defend yourself in court and before the DMV. Do you know how to spot and exploit "constitutional violations" made by the police to get evidence suppressed and the case dismissed?

In order to effectively defend against a Colorado alcohol driving charge you or your lawyer must be familiar with both the law specific to this area, and how those laws are applied by the police, district attorney courts. Having a competent Colorado DUI attorney can mean the difference between acquittal and losing your driver's license or going to jail. We get a lot of calls from people who think that DUI case will disappear after a seven year "Statute of Limitations." The fact of the matter is that the Statute of Limitations doesn't apply where a case has been filed against you in court. Nor is it possible to "Expunge" record of a DUI conviction in Colorado after the fact. Its always best to fight the DUI with every weapon available to you. This requires a well trained dui attorney working with other DUI experts such as toxicologists, pharmacologists and accident reconstruction engineers.

Our goal is to provide you with quality representation and prompt service. We know the law and how it will be applied in your case. What's more we understand technical defenses based upon blood and breath testing. We are trained in the correct operation of the breath test machines used here, the Intoxylizer 5000EN. We are also certified to administer NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety tests. Cliff Hypsher is a member of the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. where the best DUI attorneys in the country collaborate to share the latest, most effective DUI defense techniques! Call 1.877.362.9091 now for a free consultation if you or some one you know needs competent help with a drunk driving offense.

I've devoted most of my adult life to learning about DUIs and how they are prosecuted. This site is designed to make understanding the the DUI Law a little easier. Please report inactive links so that we can correct any problem. We want you to get the full benefit of the site's content.

There are three major parts to the "Summary." Below, in Part I, you will find some simple first steps you should take if you have recently been arrested for a drunk driving offense. Part II discusses Administrative Penalties. Part III concerns Criminal Penalties for Colorado DUIs. Part I contains practical steps to take immediately after your are released from custody to insure that your rights are protected. Part II and III are intended to help you to understand the DUI process and what penalties you are facing and should be reviewed after you've gone through Part I.

How do I prepare myself to fight a DUI or DUID arrest?

Most people arrested for drunk driving are pretty shaken up for a few days after their arrest. Because of ever decreasing "legal limits," behavior that most people would consider innocent - a couple glasses of wine with dinner or a few beers during a concert can result in fines, lengthy probation or jail. What can you do to protect yourself against drunk driving charges? Obviously, you could never drink alcohol at a party, restaurant or concert again. If you live near where you are going to drink, a taxi or public transportantion is a viable solution. There are many handheld breath test devices available for under $500.00 that allow you to check your BAC before driving. But what if you already been arrested for DUI? Listed below are a few simple steps you should take as soon as you are released by the police or detox center:

More information about protecting your rights.

DUI-Advisor is intended as a resource for non-lawyers faced with a Colorado DUI. The information provided here is updated periodically, however DUI law is constantly evolving -always consult with a licensed attorney before making any important decision about your case!