Intent is one of the most important elements in any criminal case in Colorado or elsewhere. In order to be convicted of a crime, the defendant must have had criminal intent.In DUI cases, that means the guilty party must have intended to drive even though he or she was...
Month: February 2014
Hit and Run Charges climb in Colorado
The Denver Post reports that the Denver area has numerous unsolved hit and run accidents and that the frequency is only increasing. A hit and run accident usually involves one of the drivers leaving the scene of the accident without contacting authorities or...
Drunk driving survey causes constitutional controversy (2 of 2)
As we began discussing in the last post, many individuals and rights advocates are not happy about a government survey on impaired driving that's currently being conducted throughout the country.Federal transportation officials say the National Roadside Survey of...
2005 VHS Monster-In-Law Case Dismissed
A South Carolina woman spent the night in jail for failing to return a movie she rented. Back in 2005, when she rented the VHS "monster-in-law" the store owners sought a warrant after she failed to return the video.She was released on a $2,000.00 bond and the case was...
Drunk driving survey causes constitutional controversy (1 of 2)
Anyone who has ever been stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Colorado knows how scary the experience can be -- even though you have a right to refuse voluntary roadside testing.Now imagine if you are stopped at what appears to be a law enforcement-sponsored DUI checkpoint...
Marijuana DUI laws based on ‘mishmash’ of data
Recreational marijuana use became legal in Colorado on January 1, and with that major law change has come many questions about driving under the influence of marijuana.Under Colorado law, it is possible to be charged with driving under the influence of marijuana....
Proposed New Colorado Law Could Allow Bars to Stay Open Later
Colorado state law prohibits your local bar from selling alcohol between the hours of 2 A.M. and 7 A.M. Last Call! House Bill 1132 proposes to give your local government more latitude with the above-referenced restriction on selling alcohol. For example, downtown...
States hope Good Samaritan laws will prevent overdoses
Dangerous drugs, including heroin, are causing a spike in overdose deaths in the United States. Sadly, many of the overdose victims could have been saved if they had received medical treatment, but the people they were with avoided calling the police out of fear of...
Consequences of Underage Drinking Driving (MIP in Colorado)
You were at a party and had a beer with your friends. You were having a good time but decided to leave because you had to study for final exams. You jumped in your ride and headed home. You noticed the lights and sirens in your rear view mirror. The officer said he...
Colorado law could get tougher on repeat DUI offenders
Lawmakers in Colorado are considering making major changes to the state’s DUI laws in effort to curb drunk driving.The changes would specifically address the state’s current policy on multiple DUI convictions. Currently, drivers face misdemeanor charges for drunk...