A decade ago, a Colorado man was apparently drunk, drove off of an Arapahoe County road and into a ditch where he hit a traffic sign. He was arrested for DUI, and then a year later, he was arrested again for DUI. That time, he was found asleep in his car just a few...
Month: March 2015
Watered-down felony DUI bill moves forward
It's officially known as HB-1043. Unofficially, it's known as the DUI felony bill that would add Colorado to the list of states where multiple drunk driving convictions can result in a felony being charged against the alleged offender. If convicted of the felony, the...
What is ‘Level I Education’?
Is Level I education a class carpenters take to learn how to make sure boards on a horizontal surface are even? No. Is it a class for surveyors? Again, no. Level I Education refers to the classes offered by the Colorado Department of Human Services' Office of...
What are the current laws for habitual DUI offenders in Colorado?
Stricter penalties for repeat drunk driving are the topic of many criminal and traffic discussions in Colorado. We recently discussed the legislation lawmakers proposed that would make drunk driving a felony for habitual offenders.Lawmakers, advocates, lawyers and...
Proposed legislation making repeat DUI a felony
Lawmakers in Colorado are in the process of creating a bill creating felony charges for individuals charged with repeat DUI. Since misdemeanor punishments result in shorter sentences, the obvious intent is to come down harder on individuals facing multiple DUI...
Would mandated ignition interlock devices curtail liberty?
What if every new car sold in the U.S. had in it an ignition interlock device? Researchers recently studied the question and concluded that 85 percent of fatalities blamed on alcohol in traffic accidents could be prevented, according to a study in the American Journal...
Study shows rise in drivers using prescription drugs, marijuana
There is no doubt that today's highways, cars and drivers are safer than in the past. Traffic-related deaths are at per-capita levels not seen since the first half of the 20th century. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of...
Getting your license back after multiple DUIs
In Colorado, a multiple DUI convictions often come with the loss of your license. For many people in Denver, living without a valid driver's license is not easy. Picking up your kids from school is suddenly not an option, and getting to and from is much more...
St. Patrick’s Day: 50 in Denver arrested for DUI
A recurring theme in St. Patrick's Day celebrations is wishes for the luck of the Irish. There are 50 people in Denver today who probably feel as if they are out of luck. DPD recently reported that its officers arrested 50 drivers during St. Patrick's Day patrols in...
Do I have to consent to a breath test if stopped for DUI?
Many drivers are unsure of what their rights are when it comes to DUI traffic stops. Breath tests and other blood-alcohol tests in particular cause a lot of confusion. Do you have to take a breath, blood or urine test just because a police officer tells you to? What...