Larimer County DUI Attorney

Driving under the influence is a serious criminal offense that can result in the loss of your driver’s license, jail time, mandatory treatment, substantial economic penalties, and long-term consequences that can include job loss or the inability to work in certain jobs or professions. 

It is the most common serious offense faced by motorists - with law enforcement making more than 20,000 arrests in Colorado each year - and is the leading generator of revenue for most municipal court systems. 

Despite a decrease in the number of impaired motorists on the road, the number of arrests continues to rise, as lawmakers devise more and more ways to make arrests. Today, our Larimer DUI lawyers are called to represent many motorists who never tested above the nationwide legal limit of .08. 

In fact, Colorado law targets motorists with a BAC as low as .02 and has also devised ways to charge people for driving under the influence of marijuana, despite little evidence that the state’s arbitrary testing and enforcement methods fairly target offenders or reduce the risks of intoxicated motorists on the road. 

Larimer Arrests DUI - DWAI - DUID - UDD

Under current Colorado law, Motorists may face criminal charges even if their BAC is not above the nationwide legal limit of .08. 

• DWAI (Driving with Ability Impaired): For those with a BAC exceeding 0.05 (but less than 0.08) there is a permissible inference that your ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
• DUI (Driving Under the Influence): If the defendant's BAC is 0.08 or more, there is a permissible inference that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.
• PDD ( Persistent Drunk Driver): subject to greater penalties if the test shows a blood alcohol level of at least 0.15. 
• DUID (Driving Under the Influence of Drugs): If a defendant's blood contains 5 nanograms or more of delta-9 THC (the active substance in some marijuana products) per milliliter in whole blood, there is a permissible inference that the defendant was driving under the influence of drugs. 
• UDD (Underage Drunk Driving): For those under the age of 21, the legal limit is just .02, essentially a trace amount. Violators are punishable by a 3-month license revocation, 24 hours of public service, $100 in fines and alcohol/drug classes.

Drunk Driving Penalties in Larimer

Colorado law provides both administrative and criminal penalties for drunk or impaired driving.

DUI Administrative Penalties 

• BAC of .08 or higher
• First offense: 9-month license suspension
• Second offense: 12-month license suspension 
• Third offense: 24-month license suspension
• DUI conviction: 9-month license suspension (12 points)
• DWAI conviction: No suspension (8 points) 

DUI Criminal Penalties

The progressive nature of Colorado’s drunk driving laws means a subsequent arrest will result in more serious penalties. The best way to avoid such penalties is to keep a first conviction off your criminal record by hiring an experienced Larimer DUI defense attorney. 

• DWAI: Misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail (2-day minimum), $500 fine, 48-hours community service. 
• DUI: Misdemeanor punishable by 5-days to 1-year in jail, $1,000 fine and up to 96 hours of community service. 
• 2nd offense: 10-days to 1 year in jail, $1,500 fine, up to 120 hours of community service. 
• 3rd offense: 60 days to 1 year in jail, $1,500 fine, up to 120 hours of community service. 
• 4th offense: Felony, 2-6 years in prison (3 years of parole). 

The truth is there are many ways to beat these charges. Law enforcement most often arrests a motorist with the assumption he or she will simply plead guilty and attempt to go on with life. This is a mistake and a great way to be targeted by law enforcement for years to come.

Our experienced Larimer DUI defense lawyers represent motorist clients throughout the area, including Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, Larimer County, Weld County, Berthoud, Estes Park, Johnstown, Red Feather Lakes, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor, LaPorte, Bellevue, Greeley, Ault, Eaton, Severance, Nunn, Firestone, Dacono, Boulder, Winter Park, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs and Fraser. We represent clients in Larimer County, Boulder County, Weld County, Grand County and beyond.

Call Matthew Haltzman at the Haltzman Law Firm today at (970) 692-3440 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.