Most driving under the influence charges in Colorado are misdemeanors, but prosecutors may pursue felony charges. This will happen to so-called “four-strikes offenders,” repeat offenders or those with complicated circumstances surrounding their arrest. It can mean...
Felony DUI
A notable day for an already tough Colorado DUI law
As we stressed in a previous blog post at the long-tenured Denver criminal defense firm of Shazam, Kianpour & Associates, Colorado law enforcers "have never been compromising or lenient to any extent when it comes to prosecuting drinking-related offenses."In fact,...
Colorado Governor signs new, stricter felony DUI law
Passed by the House in April and the Senate in May, Governor John Hickenlooper signed HB 17-1288 into law on Tuesday -- making Colorado's already strict felony DUI laws even tougher.Specifically, this bill will modify the penalties and probation conditions for those...
Colorado’s already harsh felony DUI law could become even tougher
Colorado authorities have never been compromising or lenient to any extent when it comes to prosecuting drinking-related offenses and seeking harsh outcomes for convicted offenders.The state's felony DUI statute is a case in point. That enactment, which became law in...
Recent holiday brings strong DUI focus; a few words on penalties
Just how serious are Colorado law enforcers when it comes to looking for alleged impaired drivers and obtaining criminal drunk driving convictions?Let a few material details relating to St. Patrick's Day answer that question.Here's one: Law enforcement agencies across...
Ninth DUI leads to felony conviction for Colorado man
Colorado's recent felony DUI expansion was brought to bear in a very real way recently, during the sentencing of a man who had numerous prior DUI convictions across several states. The defendant was appearing to face his ninth DUI charge in Colorado.The district...
Why do felony DUI penalties vary so much?
When laws change, it can be for the better or worse. In the case of those facing a felony conviction in Colorado for driving under the influence, it can actually work to your benefit. In fact, because the guidelines are so loose, it's possible to receive no...
Felony DUI laws lead to rising prison population
Laws that get tough on crimes that the public loves to hate are often relatively easy to get passed and build plenty of political goodwill for the public servants who author and support them. However, these types of laws can have unanticipated consequences that demand...
After a third DUI conviction, the stakes are much higher
After your third DUI, you may have promised yourself and others that you would not make that mistake again. The financial and personal damage you experienced probably lingered for months or even years. Despite all that, you found yourself on the other side of a...
What makes a felony DUI so bad?
A felony DUI is unlike other forms because it is intended for those who have caused harm to another person due to their negligence. If you're in a situation where you were driving while intoxicated and hit a vehicle or a pedestrian, you could be facing this charge. A...