| Colorado DUI Laws & Colorado Drunk Driving Penalties | | | | much as 72 years of imprisonment for killing a person |
| Colorado DUI Laws to Become Harsher | | | | due to drunk driving compared to no imprisonment for |
| Currently in Colorado drunk driving is the result of a | | | | a similar crime. |
| blood alcohol content of.08 or above; Driving While | | | | Representative Claire Levy is proposing new legislation |
| Ability Impaired (DWAI) is the result of a blood alcohol | | | | that will categorize drunk driving as a felony in 2010 for |
| content of.05 to less than.08. Repeat offenders make | | | | repeat offenders. The legislation aims to increase |
| up a larger portion of the arrests, nearly 33%. 32,000 | | | | public safety by increasing sentencing for repeat |
| people were arrested for drunk driving in the state of | | | | offenders. The new law will increase surcharges and |
| Colorado in 2009 and caused 173 deaths in Colorado | | | | will set sentencing without opportunity for variation. The |
| in 2008, a 5.9% change in alcohol-impaired fatalities | | | | additional funds will be directed to an alcohol abuse |
| from 2007. | | | | organization to be determined at a later date. |
| On January 8th, 2010, the Commission on Criminal and | | | | Opponents to the proposed legislation cite increased |
| Juvenile Justice voted to reconsider current Colorado | | | | costs of $20 million and the need for additional holding |
| DUI laws mandatory sentencing for repeat offenders. | | | | cells based on the projected numbers. |
| The new legislation will affect 7,000 Colorado drivers | | | | Statistics clearly show the dangers of drunk driving. |
| with multiple offenses for drunk driving records. | | | | Alive at 25 supports efforts to increase the |
| Despite prescribed sentencing, judges also have the | | | | awareness of young drivers to all hazards of driving. |
| authority to sentence alternative penalties. A second | | | | Although no parent wants to think that an minor is |
| time offender requires jail time with a large range from | | | | drinking let alone drinking and driving, the best |
| 90 days to 1 year. Colorado DUI laws allow for great | | | | prevention is to lead by example and discuss the |
| variance in sentencing due to this loophole. The | | | | ramifications with your children. Additional resources for |
| discrepancy has caused variance in sentencing as | | | | safe driving can be found on Alive at 25. |