In a recent blog post, we discussed a case of a man who was sent to prison for his ninth DUI conviction. While this is a fairly extreme case of felony DUI, it is a stark reminder that drunk driving is a very serious crime.
We know that many people don’t mean any harm when they drive home after having a few drinks. Even if you think that you are able to drive, you still can’t do so legally if your blood alcohol concentration is at or above the legal limit.
If you do get pulled over and know you have been drinking what could possibly be a bit too much, you should think carefully about what you are going to do. You do have options; however, those options aren’t without consequence.
One option that you have is to refuse to take the test to determine your blood alcohol concentration. Opting to do this might seem like the best idea at the time, but because of Colorado’s implied consent law, refusing to take the test can mean you lose your driver’s license for up to a year.
You also have the right to remain silent and have your attorney present if you are questioned. Remember that statements might be misconstrued, so think carefully about your statements if you do opt to speak to police officers. When you have any doubt, you can invoke your right to remain silent.
We know that things happen and people do get charged with drunk driving. If you are facing these charges, we can help you learn about presenting a defense against the charge. This can focus on proving that you aren’t guilty or it might focus on minimizing the penalties that you face if you think a conviction is inevitable.