When a person is suspected of drunk driving in Colorado, law enforcement officers generally follow a procedure to verify that their suspicion is correct. After they get the suspect to pull off to the side of the road, law enforcement officers may test the driver for impairment by asking him to recite the alphabet or count backwards. Law enforcement officers may also request that the suspect participates in a standardized field sobriety test, like standing on one leg or walking in a straight line.
A Colorado woman with repeat DUI issues was allegedly driving while alcohol impaired when she collided with another vehicle as she drove down the HOV lane on Interstate 25. The woman was reportedly driving in the wrong direction at the time. It is, however, unknown how it was determined that the blood alcohol content was above the legal limit or that the woman was under the influence of alcohol. There was no mention of a sobriety test being conducted at the scene.
The woman, as well as the driver and passenger of the vehicle she collided with, were admitted to a local hospital with injuries. The passenger of the other vehicle has since died. It is unknown whether criminal charges have been filed against the woman.
Law enforcement officers are monitoring drunk driving closely and there are hefty penalties if a person is convicted. Drunk driving arrests can result in convictions with penalties like license suspension and fines. When a person faces a felony DUI conviction, it is likely that he or she could be handed a prison sentence. When a person is charged with drunk driving, it may be helpful to get legal counsel from an experienced attorney.
Source: CNN, “Colorado mourns pro-marijuana activist killed by drunk driver,” Kim Sidwell, Sep. 7, 2013