Maybe you have a less than stellar driving history but considering how often you drive it can’t really be THAT bad can it? It really depends on the details that are found in your driving record.
Colorado’s traffic laws dish out severe criminal and administrative penalties for people who find themselves facing charges such as reckless driving, DUI, DWAI, DUR/DUS (driving under restraint/suspension) and even traffic tickets of four or more points.
If your driving record begins to accumulate multiple convictions for any of the above you should be
concerned about possibly being designated a “Habitual Traffic Offender” or “HTO” by the Colorado Department of Revenue (a.k.a. DMV). Once designated as HTO the Department is required to suspend your driving privileges for five years. This five year suspension will be in addition to any other suspension time that may be already active on your license. Most people who find themselves on the brink of being designated HTO may very well be facing a very lengthy suspension period in total.
“Screw it. I will never get my license back I am just going to drive anyways.”
Life happens and in our mobile world it is difficult to imagine life without driving. Nevertheless, criminal penalties for people who find themselves in trouble for driving while they are HTO are severe. If you get caught driving you will likely be charged at the very least with Driving After Revocation
Prohibited (DARP). A DARP charge is a class one misdemeanor and carries with it the possibility of between 6 and 18 months in the county jail, between 40 and 300 hours of community service and a minimum mandatory fine of $3,000.
With all the possibilities, charges and designations it can be easy to get lost in the system. Get the facts early and begin your defense before the DMV makes your decisions for you. I have posted a link below to illustrate the reality of how easy it is for the average citizen to get lost in the complex DMV & DOR system.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/11/johnson-he-knows-its-the-wrong-road-but-he-keeps/
While we hope you benefit from the information we posted above, it is important to note that we always suggest you contact an attorney to advise you and walk you through the legal process so that you can achieve the best possible result.
This blog was posted by Jonathan M. Lucero, an associate attorney at Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. You may contact him directly at our law firm at 720-407-2582 or at http://www.shazamlaw.com/