On holidays in Colorado and across the U.S., law enforcement steps up its efforts to catch drivers who might be under the influence. That endeavor includes an increased law enforcement presence on the roads, checkpoints and other strategies designed specifically to catch drunk drivers.
Although these steps are understandable and are done with the safety of the community in mind, that does not automatically mean that everyone who is stopped and charged is guilty. Those who are facing these charges should remember their right to a legal defense.
During Memorial Day weekend, there were 322 arrests for DUI/DWAI in the state. In 2018 over the same holiday weekend, 19 people died in accidents because of drunk driving.
The Colorado Department of Transportation says that, on average, there are 60 arrests for DUI/DWAI in the state each day. For drivers to be charged with DUI, their blood-alcohol content must register as 0.08% or more. For DWAI, that number is 0.05%. When there is an arrest, even a person who has never had a DUI/DWAI conviction can face up to one year in jail. There will also be fines and a driver’s license suspension.
Because of the consequences that can result from a DUI/DWAI charge, it is vital to think about how to deal with the case and seek a reasonable resolution. When law enforcement is out in great numbers trying to catch people under the influence, it is possible that there will be cases in which they are overzealous or make mistakes with the investigation. It is possible that the driver appeared to be under the influence but was not. The testing procedure could have been flawed. Having legal advice from the start is critical to lodging a defense against DUI/DWAI charges.
