First Offense DUI Laws: Colorado DUI Penalties & Consequences

 

A few years back, we read a story of a congressional candidate, Steven Foster, who was sentenced to six months in jail for driving under the influence (DUI). This shows you that states take DUI offenses seriously, regardless of who you are.

Like any other state, Colorado has its own DUI laws that motorists need to follow. These laws aim to force you to change your attitude towards DUI– you were lucky this time you didn't kill yourself or anyone else.

We have two categories of motorists – those with a previous DUI conviction that was overturned after a specific time and those with no convictions at all. Let us look at the law that handles those with a clean record in Denver.

Losing Your Driving Privileges

The basic punishment for this offense is that you lose the use of your driver's license, and your driving privileges are cut off for a certain time.You can have the driver’s license reinstated, but this requires expert criminal defense attorney Denver services.

Probation Period

Denver imposes a 12-month probation period for DUI. Probation means you are allowed to stay out of jail for 12 months, but you have to abide by certain conditions that the judge has set. Some of the requirements include:

·         Abstinence from alcohol and drugs for the period.

·         Going for a substance abuse evaluation and any treatments that the court has recommended.

·         Undergoing random drug and alcohol tests.

Once the probation period is over successfully, you can apply for reinstatement of your driving privileges.

Payment of a Fine

You face a minimum fine of $300 plus any other costs the court deems necessary. The fine depends on the kind of defense you get, making it vital that you get a skilled criminal defense lawyer to handle the DUI charge.

Community Service

You might be slapped with at least 40 hours of community service in Denver. The aim is to make sure you realize your mistake and change your ways. This also keeps you busy to avoid alcohol and substance abuse.

Substance Abuse Counselling

The court requires you to work with substance abuse counselors to help you get rid of your addiction. The counselor handles you as an individual or in a group to help identify problems you are going through and help you get a solution. Counseling enables you to keep away from alcohol and drugs and deal with life.

How Do You Get Your Driver’s License Back after the First DUI?

Getting the license back isn’t that simple. The decision depends on your previous driving record and how severe the DUI conviction is. A first offense can result in the suspension of your driving license for 120 days or even five years. If you have prior violations and the errors have added up, the suspension can be extensive.

Once you complete the various penalties, you apply to the department of driver services (DDS) to reinstate the license via mail or in person.

How Much does it Cost You?

When you rack up the charges, you find that a DUI in Denver costs you a lot. You pay for reinstatement of the driving license, fines, surcharges, time spent on community service, jail time (can be 72 hours up to 10 days), and increased insurance rates. This translates to up to $10,000, especially when you don’t use experienced criminal defense attorney Denver services. We are a call away, and we promise a fast resolution to your DUI case. Call us.

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