DUI, DWAI and Intoxicated Driving

Colorado Springs Drunk Driving Defense Attorney

Colorado law is tough on people caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you’re charged with first-time DUI in our state, you may go to jail and could face the loss of your driver’s license, community service and thousands of dollars in fines, fees and court costs. If you’re part of Colorado Springs’ large military population or do a civilian job requiring you to drive, you will almost certainly also face penalties at work. Because DUI and DWAI are misdemeanor crimes, you will also end up with a criminal record that could hurt you in future legal matters or job applications. With so much at stake, you should never plead guilty without first understanding all of your options.

Colorado Springs DUI defense attorney Jennifer B. James can help. I represent clients in El Paso County and throughout the state of Colorado who are charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, both DUI (including underage DUI and commercial-license DUI) and the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired (DWAI). I can also help with related DMV license suspension hearings and any traffic violations charges.

Colorado DUI and DWAI Penalties

In Colorado, you’ll be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol if your blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. For drug-related DUIs, you can be charged if law enforcement believes you were driving with any amount of drugs in your system at all — including legal over-the-counter and prescription drugs that could impair your driving. The limit is just 0.04% for people who have commercial driver’s licenses. And for drivers under 21, the limit is just 0.02%. If you refuse to take the test, you can still be charged — and your driver’s license will be revoked automatically.

Colorado also allows a lesser drunk driving charge, driving while ability impaired by alcohol or drugs. There’s no legal limit for DWAI; you can be charged if law enforcement thinks you were driving while impaired in any way by any amount of alcohol or drugs. However, because the law also assumes you’re not impaired if your BAC was below 0.05%, a low BAC significantly increases your chances of successfully fighting a DWAI.

Subsequent offenses and offenses involving a very high BAC carry more serious penalties, including mandatory jail time, even longer license suspensions and sometimes an ignition interlock device (breathalyzer) in your vehicle. These penalties can have a massive negative effect on your life — losing your license alone can significantly impair your ability to get to work reliably, find a job or take care of your family.

As a Colorado Springs DUI defense attorney, I will comb through your case to find all possible defenses that may be present. I will only advise you to plead guilty if it’s truly in your best interests. When it is, I can often successfully argue for a lesser charge or reduced penalties. If you’re charged with DUI or DWAI in Colorado, contact Colorado Springs DUI defense lawyer Jennifer B. James, P.C. for a consultation. You can reach me at 719-473-1813 or drop by my downtown Colorado Springs offices.