DUI Laws in Colorado
May 10th, 2008 | Posted in Laws.
Driving under the influence or driving while ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs are serious offenses in the state of Colorado. Half of all traffic deaths reported in the state are alcohol related. That is why police agencies around Colorado have enforcement programs such as the Heat is on campaign to cut down on drunken driving.
The Offenses
DUI, or Driving Under the Influence is a serious offense that will cost you your wallet, your driving privileges, or even result in a bit of jail time. Your BAC or Blood Alcohol Concentration has to be below .08% in order to not be charged with this offense. In 1994, the state of Colorado lowered the BAC limit from .10% to .08% in hopes of lowering the amount of drunken driving related deaths.
DWAI, or Driving While Ability is Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs, is the lesser of the two, as it will cost you points off of your license, a fine and maybe even some jail time. To be charged with this offense, you will need a BAC between .05% and 0.7%.
The Penalties
If you are charged with a DWAI and it is your first offense, it will cost you eight points off of your license, a $100 to $500 fine, two to 180 days in jail and 24 to 48 hours of community service. But if you are charged with a DUI on your first offense, you will have your license suspended for a year, $300 to $1,000 fine, five days to one year in jail, 48 to 96 hours of community service and an alcohol education class for three to nine months. Getting a good Colorado DUI attorney is the next step.
Colorado Laws
When you operate a motor vehicle in the state of Colorado you are automatically giving “expressed consent” to be administered a BAC test. If an officer suspects you of being under the influence and you refuse to be tested, you will lose your license for one year.
If you are under the age of 21 and have a BAC between .02% and .08%, your license will be revoked. If you are under 21 and have alcohol in the vehicle, your license will be revoked as well. This is part of Colorado’s zero tolerance towards minors.
Conclusion
We’ve taken a look at some Colorado DUI laws, the penalties for committing alcohol related offenses and how you can be charged as an adult or as a minor. Half of all traffic related deaths in Colorado are alcohol related. It is important that if you need to drive, rethink the consequences and have someone sober do the driving for you.
