Source: https://www.cliftonblacklaw.com/practice-areas/criminal-defense/dui-defense/driving-under-the-influence-driving-while-impaired-driving-with-excessive-alcohol-content/
Timestamp: 2020-03-30 09:05:24
Document Index: 435901364

Matched Legal Cases: ['§42', '§42', '§42', '§42', '§42', '§42', '§42', '§42', '§42', '§ 42', '§42', '§ 42', '§3']

DUI, Driving While Impaired, Driving with Excessive Alcohol Content
Home » Practice Areas » Criminal Defense » DUI Defense » Driving Under the Influence, Driving While Impaired, Driving with Excessive Alcohol Content
The Colorado criminal statutes, Colorado laws, below for DUI, DWAI or any offense related to drinking and driving, is provided as a convenience for people accused of drinking and driving offenses or any one curious about the laws in Colorado for drunk driving offenses. The statutes / law below is not intended to be legal advice and cannot be deemed legal advice. Because the laws for DUI, DWAI, or any related drinking and driving offense change on a regular basis, a person charged with DUI, DWAI or any related drinking and driving offense is strongly encourage to research the laws through the Colorado Statutes / Colorado laws for any changes or hire a DUI attorney / DUI lawyer that is familiar with the laws of Colorado.
The Law Offices of Clifton Black, PC, LLC has 4 attorneys that provide criminal defense for drinking and driving related offenses, also known as DUI, DWAI, DWI, drunk driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, or both alcohol and drugs. This law firm provides free consultations for persons with criminal charges under Colorado law.
A person charged with criminal offense involving drunk driving, driving while drunk, DUI, DWAI or any other alcohol and/or drugs related offense should be aware that Colorado House Bill 10-1347 (herein “H.B. 10-1347”) substantially changed the penalties for traffic offenses related to drinking and driving in 2010. H.B. 10-1347 repealed the penalty section of the former Driving Under The Influence (DUI) (of alcohol or drugs) and Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) (of alcohol or drugs).
Colorado law, Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) herein C.R.S. §42-4-1301(7) and created a new law / statute “CRS”) , §42-4-1307, “Penalties for Traffic Offenses Involving Alcohol and Drugs – Repeal.”
The bottom line for people charged with drunk driving, drinking and driving, DUI or DWAI offenses as a result of alcohol or drugs that occur in Colorado after July 1, 2010 is that the penalty for a 2nd or subsequent offense is now increased to a possible 2 year jail sentence. As a result of the Colorado law change, the courts often order supervised probation. When persons/defendants who have previous or prior convictions for drunk driving, DUI, DWAI or are otherwise charged with an alcohol and/or drug related traffic offenses serve mandatory and/or court ordered jail time, they will not receive any good-time credit while serving the jail sentence. The Colorado law for drunk driving, DUI, DWAI, under Colorado law, C.R.S. §42-4-1307 has increased the mandatory jail term that a person/defendant must serve on a second, third or subsequent drunk driving or DUI offense. Furthermore, penalties have increased if the person/defendant charged with DUI or DWAI has prior Driving Under Restraint (“DUR”) conviction.
It is important for the general public and persons/defendants currently charged with a drunk driving offense, DUI, DWAI to understand that for purposes of the sentencing statute, both alcohol and/or drug related traffic offenses as well as non-alcohol and/or drug related traffic offenses constitute “prior” offenses. A prior offense means that the driver or defendant being prosecuted of: Drunk driving DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, or Habitual User and at the time of sentencing that person has one or more prior convictions for:
Drunk Driving DUI, DUI per se, DWAI
Vehicular Homicide (based on Drunk Driving, Driving under the influence, DUI), Vehicular Assault (based on Drunk Driving, Driving under the influence, DUI)
Aggravated DARP (Driving After Revocation Prohibited), where the underlying offense was a drinking and driving offense DUI or DWAI
Habitual Traffic Offender (as a felony based on drinking and driving DUI or DWAI
DUR – alcohol related
Prior convictions can be under the laws of Colorado, any other State, the United States, or any territory of the United States. Prima facie proof of a prior conviction can be stipulated by the defense and prosecution, can be evidenced from driving record from Department of Revenue from Colorado or any state or by an authenticated copy of conviction from the court. The state is not required to prove the previous conviction at trial. The Colorado court will not immediately sentence any defendant who has priors if the prosecution and defense have not stipulated to the priors, or if the prosecution requests time to get driving record or prior court records.
Moreover, the new Colorado law, C.R.S. for traffic offenses involving drinking and driving, drunk driving, DUI, DWAI, alcohol and drugs also substantially changes and enhances the requirements of probation that the Colorado court shall impose upon the defendant convicted of the drinking and driving offense or drug traffic related offense occurring after July 1, 2010. For offenses occurring after July 1, 2010, probation may be mandatory. See §42-4-1307(1)(a)(b). The purpose of probation is to help the defendant change his or her behavior to reduce the risk of future violations of Colorado law, C.R.S. §42-4-1301 addressing DUI and DWAI’s (as a result of driving drunk, driving under the influence or being impaired to the slightest degree by alcohol or drugs). If the Colorado court imposes imprisonment as a penalty for a violation of a condition of his or her probation, the penalty shall constitute a separate period of imprisonment (jail) that the offender shall serve in addition to the imprisonment (jail) component of his or her original sentence. See, §42-4-1307(b). Now, on a 2nd and subsequent drunk driving offense, DUI, one year jail is entered and suspended as a condition of every period of probation. If probation is revoked for any reason, a person can serve up to an additional year in jail. This jail time is in addition to any period of imprisonment/jail imposed on the underlying offense. The bottom line is that a offender can serve one year maximum on any 2nd or subsequent DUI, and can potentially serve an additional one year maximum if the mandatory probation is revoked. Jail time on the one year probation revocation can be served in increments and the probation period tolls (is put on hold) while the person is in custody. A period of imprisonment (jail), which, for a repeat offender, shall include a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment and restrictions on where and how the sentence may be served. See §42-4-1307(a).
§42-4-1307 now determines penalties based on the number of traffic and alcohol related convictions instead of merely convictions for drunk driving, DUI and DWAI.
It is also very important for the general public, as well as defendants charged with drinking and driving , DUI, DWAI or other alcohol or drug related actions or charged offenses that their driver’s license will be suspended or revoked as a result of both a drunk driving, DUI and drug related traffic stop or conviction. Moreover, persons who have been charged or convicted of drunk driving, DUI, DWAI or drug related stops can also be charged criminally if they are not driving with a valid driver’s license. §42-2-125 is the criminal statute encompassing mandatory revocation of driver’s licenses and permits. § 42-4-132.5 is the criminal statute that encompasses mandatory and voluntary restricted licenses following alcohol and drug convictions.
It is important that people realize that the criminal statutes and penalties are wholly separate from the Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles, the administrative body responsible for determining a driver’s/defendant’s eligibility to obtain a valid driver’s license and what, if any, restrictions will be placed upon such driver’s/defendant’s ability to possess and utilize a driver’s license. Both the criminal statutes and DMV have requirements regarding whether an Ignition Interlock Device (“IID” or Device) is required and when the device must be installed and used by restricted drivers.
Both the Colorado criminal statutes for drunk driving, DUI, DWAI and the Department of Motor Vehicles require drivers/defendants charged and/or convicted with DUI or drug related driving offenses to complete either a Level I or Level II alcohol class. §42-2-132 is the criminal statute that requires completion of either Level I or Level II alcohol education and therapy classes. Although the criminal courts and DMV both require alcohol and/or drug treatment to successfully complete probation and/or qualify for a restricted or unrestricted driver’s license, the classes mandated by the courts and DMV may be different. Speak to your DUI attorney or DUI lawyer about which DUI classes you are enrolled in to ensure that you will get proper credit for DUI classes attended.
There are several criminal court and DMV requirements the accused needs to satisfy prior to being eligible for either a restricted or unrestricted reinstatement of the motorist’s driver’s license. The DUI laws are very complex to navigate through. B A person charged with a drunk driving related offense, whether DUI, DUID, DWAI DWI, should have the benefit of an experience DUI attorney or DUI lawyer. The Law Offices of Clifton Black, PC, LLC have several DUI attorneys that can assist a person charged with a drinking and driving offense.
§ 42-4-1301. Driving under the Influence – Driving While Impaired – Driving with Excessive Alcoholic Content – Definitions – Penalties – Repeal.
(b) In any prosecution for the offense of DUI per se, the defendant shall be entitled to offer direct and circumstantial evidence to show that there is a disparity between what the tests show and other facts so that the trier of fact could infer that the tests were in some way defective or inaccurate. Such evidence may include testimony of non-expert witnesses relating to the absence of any or all of the common symptoms or signs of intoxication for the purpose of impeachment of the accuracy of the analysis of the person’s blood or breath.
(d) If a person refuses to take or to complete, or to cooperate with the completing of, any test or tests as provided in section 42-4-1301.1and such person subsequently stands trial for DUI or DWAI, the refusal to take or to complete, or to cooperate with the completing of, any test or tests shall be admissible into evidence at the trial, and a person may not claim the privilege against self-incrimination with regard to admission of refusal to take or to complete, or to cooperate with the completing of, any test or tests.
(e) Involuntary blood test – admissibility. Evidence acquired through an involuntary blood test pursuant to section 42-4-1301.1(3)shall be admissible in any prosecution for DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, habitual user, or UDD, and in any prosecution for criminally negligent homicide pursuant to section 18-3-105, C.R.S., vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106(1)(b), C.R.S., assault in the third degree pursuant to section 18-3-204, C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant to section 18-3-205(1)(b), C.R.S.
(7) [Repealed by 2010 Ch. 258, §3 eff. 7/1/2010 – See Note] Penalties.(a) (I) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (II) and (IV) of this paragraph (a), every person who is convicted of DUI, DUI per se, or habitual user shall be punished by:
(A) A conviction for DUI, DUI per se, or habitual user, which violation occurred at any time after the date of a previous violation, for which there has been a conviction, for DUI, DUI per se, or habitual user, or for vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant to section 18-3-205(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., or of driving while such person’s driver’s license was under restraint pursuant to section 42-2-138(4)(b); or
(III) Upon conviction for DWAI, which violation occurred at any time after the date of a previous violation, for which there has been a conviction for DUI, DUI per se, habitual user, or vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant to section 18-3-205(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., or of driving while such person’s driver’s license was under restraint as described in section 42-2-138(4)(b), an offender shall be punished by:
(c) (I) For the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (7), a person shall be deemed to have a previous conviction for DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, or habitual user, or vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant to section 18-3-205(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., if such person has been convicted under the laws of any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of an act that, if committed within this state, would constitute the offense of DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, or habitual user, or vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106(1)(b) (I), C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant to section 18-3-205(1)(b) (I), C.R.S.
(I) Persons convicted of DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, habitual user, and UDD are subject to the costs imposed by section 24-4.1-119(1)(c), C.R.S., relating to the crime victim compensation fund.
(g) In addition to any fines, fees, or costs levied against a person convicted of DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, habitual user, and UDD, the judge shall assess each such person for the cost of the pre-sentence or post-sentence alcohol and drug evaluation and supervision services.