Getting a DUI can be a scary and confusing experience. We have answers to questions that may come up to help you along the way. You can also visit our DUI Defense page.
What does BAC mean?
BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration. This measures a person’s intoxication level using a percentage. In Colorado, the law presumes that a level above 0.08% is considered under the influence. If a person has a BAC above 0.20%, in Colorado a DUI conviction can carry heavier penalties
What do I do if I get pulled over for a DUI?
We wrote a whole article for you, please visit it here,
I think I’m being charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, can they do that?
Yes. In Colorado, this DUI can be charged when they suspect you used some sort of drug before driving, even if you had a valid prescription. Typically, police and prosecutors use a blood test to attempt to prove you were driving under the influence of drugs, or DUID.
Will I lose my driver’s license?
Every person arrested for DUI runs the risk of losing their license for a period of time. This is one area where an experienced lawyer can potentially help you take the necessary steps to either avoid suspension, or reduce your suspension.
What’s the difference between DUI and DWAI?
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence. DWAI stands for Driving While Ability Impaired. These charges have different legal standards that a DA must prove in court to convict you. In Colorado, you can be charged with either DUI or DWAI if the police think you were driving after using drugs as well. DWAI is considered a lesser offense than DUI, but it still can carry very strict penalities depending on your particular case. If you have prior driving under the influence convictions, the penalties can often be identical for a DUI and a DWAI.
What’s going to happen to me if I get convicted?
Colorado has set up its laws in a way that DUI sentences are largely determined by whether or not a person has prior convictions. Typically speaking, the more prior alcohol-related driving offenses a person has, the more severe the potential punishment. In Colorado, DUI punishment can take the form of probation, in-home detention, a work-release program, or even jail. There will also be mandatory fines, public service hours, and monitored sobriety.
I got arrested for a DUI, do I need an attorney?
The answer to this question will vary from case-to-case. Many criminal defense attorneys have websites that answer this question as “yes.” Our decade-plus experience in prosecuting DUI cases prevents us from saying “you always need an attorney.”
The truth is that you should always talk with a lawyer, but the decision to hire a lawyer for your DUI case will depend on many factors. At The Datz Law Firm, the priority is our clients, not us. We offer in-person consultations for DUI cases. We are committed to open communication with our potential clients, and we will never “sell” you our services. We will never pressure someone or scare someone into hiring us.
If I want to hire a lawyer, should I do it right away?
As long as you are not feeling pressured into hiring a lawyer by someone, it typically helps your case to hire a lawyer sooner rather than later. An experienced DUI lawyer can immediately help you attempt to defend your drivers’ license with the DMV. The DMV gives you only a small window to fight a suspension.
More importantly, an experienced DUI lawyer – one who has actually presented many cases in front of a jury, knows what type of evidence needs to be preserved immediately. You may have witnesses who can help your case. These people need to be interviewed because memories rarely get better with time. There also might be some physical evidence, such as credit card receipts, photographs, videos, or medical records that need to be preserved immediately.
Do you have experience handling DUI cases?
Together, we have handled several thousand DUI cases as prosecutors. Of course, we are actively representing clients as defense counsel. We believe that former public defenders and former prosecutors typically are most qualified to handle DUI cases because of the high volume that comes with government practice
There are a lot of lawyers in Colorado that do DUI defense, why should I talk with you?
Not only are there many DUI defense lawyers in Colorado, but many of them also do an excellent job for their clients. You should consider the location of the lawyer’s office, whether or not they offer initial consultations, and most of all, whether you feel comfortable talking to them.
Our philosophy hinges on the personal relationship between a lawyer and client. We believe in open and honest communication. We believe in collaboration with our clients. At The Datz Law Firm, you will deal directly with us, not a junior associate or a paralegal.
We are regular guys – we will sit down and talk to you in plain language. We live and work in this community and we want to be there to help you.