Two distinct camps, two polar-opposite views.That dichotomy and stark difference of opinion is manifestly evident in discussions focused on an upcoming change in Colorado criminal law.That adjustment is both material and imminent. As noted in a recent Coloradoan...
Year: 2019
“Do One Smart Thing” over Labor Day weekend
Many people position the Labor Day weekend as the final blow-out of the summer. From sporting events to parties, a long weekend ushering in September seems like a great time to get together with friends and share summer stories. More often than not, these...
Pre-Labor Day ramped-up DUI enforcement efforts spotlighted
You’re familiar with this process.Colorado joins other states across the country in conducting recurring DUI crackdown initiatives throughout each year. Those coincide with periods surrounding holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas.We know that regular...
Denver’s City Council spotlighted nationally in private prison vote
The atmosphere prior to the final vote casting on one specific matter before the Denver City Council last Monday was tense. Council president Jolon Clark made a pre-tally statement that subject matter deliberations were "tearing all of us apart."The final vote...
Colorado’s free-DUI-testing move questioned, criticized
The thinking of Colorado lawmakers that spurred a recent and material change to the state’s legal blood-alcohol testing regime is clear enough.But it strongly begs this question: Was it wise?What became notably different on July 1 was the dramatically liberalized use...
Challenging a breath test
A DUI traffic stop can be a frightening experience. In a worst-case scenario, the driver might end up with a result that puts them squarely in the "over the limit" category. They could be facing stiff penalties such as fines, jail time, loss of license and an increase...
Boating under the influence in Colorado: a slap on the wrist?
You might indeed be lucky enough to merely get that proverbial slap on the wrist (see our blog headline above) from Colorado law enforcers if you were stopped while boating after drinking a certain amount of alcohol.Conversely, the penalties imposed on you could be...
Will this NY lawsuit yield similar litigation in CO, nationally?
A nonprofit group recently released a criminal law-focused report that is attracting considerable attention nationally. An article by The Marshall Project focusing upon that study notes that states across the country are "evenly split" on how they view and treat its...
Denver crime statistics: glass half full or half empty?
There are both optimists and pessimists when it comes to assessments regarding the rate of violent crimes committed in Denver. Let's spotlight the latter first. Those with a doom-and-gloom perspective concerning city crimes like robbery, sexual assault and domestic...
Why does asset forfeiture continue to cast a glaring spotlight?
It’s a money grab and little more.That is the oft-stated complaint levied by legions of Americans from across a broad spectrum against a common police practice they roundly condemn.What citizens, advocacy groups, constitutional scholars and high numbers of personally...