Understanding Colorado DUI laws is critical. In the state, you are given a mere 7 days from your arrest to file a request for a hearing of your charges. Hiring a Colorado DUI lawyer within that time period is critical to avoiding the costly automatic charges and DUI penalties you will be faced with. Your attorney can request a hearing in which your driving privileges will not be suspended until the hearing, which must happen within 60 days of your arrest.

Otherwise, your driver's license will be automatically suspended.In Colorado, DUI laws allow two cases to be brought against individuals. The Division of Motor Vehicles provides for a case in which your driving privileges can be suspended. The second case is a court case in which you could face strict Colorado DUI penalties including jail time, fines and permanent records.

Colorado DUI Laws On Charges

In Colorado, there are two instances in which you could be charged and faced with Colorado DUI penalties.

1.      DUI: Your blood alcohol level is at 0.05 percent, with or without any impairment of your driving ability

2.      DWAI: Driving While Ability Impaired, your blood alcohol level is NOT needed to charge you with DUI. The prosecutor needs only to show that you were even slightly impaired in your abilities to drive.

Implied Consent Laws

Colorado does have an express consent law. This means that if you operate a vehicle in the state, you automatically agree to take a chemical test if requested by a police officer. If you refuse to take this test, your license may be revoked for up to 1 year, solely for refusing.

Lookback Period for DUI Records

In Colorado, DUI never comes off your permanent record. If considering the lengths of suspensions and revocations, there is a five year look back practice in place. If you have three or more major incidents, the look back period is elevated to 7 years.

Colorado First Time DUI Offense

If his is the first time you are facing DUI charges, Colorado DUI penalties may include:

• Maximum of one year in jail
• Up to a $1000 fine
• 96 hours of useful public service
• An alcohol evaluation, to determine treatment needs
• 86 hours of alcohol therapy, as needed
• 8 points on your license, which is an automatic licenses suspension of up to one year
• A first offense warrants a misdemeanor charge

If you have a blood alcohol level of 0.20, this requires 10 days mandatory jail time.

Additional Offenses

If you are facing Colorado Second or Third DUI offenses, the fines may be higher and the jail time may be longer. These decisions are left up to a judge and the special circumstances in your case are taken into consideration.

Hire a Colorado DUI Attorneys

Initially, you have just 7 days to request a hearing to have your case heard. If you work with a Colorado DUI attorney during that time, they may be able to reverse charges or have them dropped. In some situations, they can help to reduce the Colorado DUI penalties you must face. It i s critical that you work with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your case is heard.

• If you have been charged with a DUI in Colorado, Submit Your Case for a Free Review from a skilled DUI Attorney.

Contact Colorado Drunk Driving Attorneys

Contact our Attorneys to get more information about Drunk Driving in Colorado: