When someone is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there is a lot on the line for that accused person. There are so many penalties that they face, and there are also indirect consequences related to their alleged crime. They may not be able to find housing or a job simply because of their criminal history. Their insurance rates will also skyrocket. Add this on top of the legal consequences, and a DUI can be one of the most disruptive crimes a person is accused of.
To understand these penalties, let’s take a look at some of the consequences that are on the books here in the state of Colorado for someone who is accused of DUI.
If you are hit with a drunk driving charge, you will lose your license. Depending on how many times you have been arrested for DUI, your license could be gone for a while. Your first offense in Colorado leads to a three-month suspension of your license. Your second and third offenses bump the suspension up to a year.
Also, you will be required to attend alcohol treatment and education classes, and you could be subject to an ignition interlock device. If that device is applied to your vehicle, a lot of the financial costs associated with it will fall on your shoulders.
As you can see the penalties are substantial and they could change your life. If you are accused of a DUI offense, you need to get legal representation as soon as possible.
Source: FindLaw, “State-by-State DUI Penalties,” Accessed Oct. 29, 2015