Need to talk to a DUI lawyer in Canon City, CO? If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI in Canon City then you need to act fast. Time is NOT on your side. Your license will be AUTOMATICALLY suspended in SEVEN days if you do not request an administrative review with the DMV. You may be able to keep your driving privileges, but there isn’t much time. You should speak to a local DUI lawyer in Canon City immediately. A DUI lawyer in Canon City can help you keep your license and give you an honest assessment of your charges. All it takes is one call to determine if there is a potential for reduction or even a dismissal of your charges — schedule a 100% FREE consultation now.
Canon City is a wonderful city with many things to do. Maybe you’re the outdoorsy type and prefer a trek through Pike’s Peak or through the Garden of Gods.
If you’d rather stay indoors, of course there’s the Canon City Pioneers Museum or the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
Of course, some of us just want to sing our hearts out on karaoke night at Thunder and Buttons.
Perhaps that last one landed you right here.
In either case, if you’ve read this far you’re likely wondering “what happens for your first DUI offense in Canon City?”
The answer really is “it depends”.
If this is your first DUI offense, while you can be sentenced to up to one year in jail, it’s probably unlikely you will serve jail time if you have good representation. The most important thing to focus on here is keeping your license so you do not negatively impact your ability to work.
Now, if this is your second or third offense, the penalties can become much more severe, so it’s important to consult with an attorney before you plead guilty or “no contest”.
Here is sentencing guidelines for a DUI in Colorado:
Penalties for your first DUI offense may include:
Penalties for a second DUI offense include:
Penalties for a third DUI offense include:
Penalties for a fourth DUI offense include:
Obviously, with multiple offenses the penalties become more severe. You should also understand that out-of-state convictions can and will be used against you as aggravating factors. This means that you will likely face mandatory jail time. That is, of course, unless you call a DUI lawyer in Canon City and get the expert legal help you need.
As a former prosecutor, our lead DUI lawyer in Canon City understands both sides of the aisle and has deep knowledge of the inner-working of the DA office, and is familiar with the challenges the District Attorney has in proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you were, in fact, driving while intoxicated. Not everything is admissible. It is extremely common for the arresting officer to make procedural errors during the arrest that can often lead to a reduction of charges or an outright dismissal of your DUI.
Here’s the reality: If you have been arrested for DUI in Canon City, you can either plead guilty or FIGHT your DUI charges.
Pleading guilty makes ZERO sense.
Even if you feel your case is hopeless, you should get the expert opinion of a DUI lawyer in Canon City as soon as possible BEFORE making any rash or uninformed decisions.
The District Attorney will often come to you with a deal immediately. This “deal” will be an “expiring offer” meant to pressure you into pleading guilty quickly. This is a tactic not of mercy, but of clearing the court calendar and saving the county the expense of future court dates and a potential trial.
The DA is not your friend or out to do you a favor.
The District Attorney’s office is measured on conviction rates and reducing the expenditure of trials. The entire system is structured to encourage uninformed people to “take a deal” and move them off the calendar as quickly as possible.
This is the main reason why ONE DUI mistake can often result in MULTIPLE charges filed against you by the District Attorney. Police Officers use the same tactic. The goal is to increase your potential jail time (on paper) by tallying up the charges in hopes of scaring you into taking a deal.
Pleading guilty means you will have a criminal record. Your insurance costs will soar. You’ll likely be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle.
A DUI conviction can also mean loss of employment or being stripped of your professional license. If you are a nurse or licensed professional, this can potentially mean the end of your career.
If you are going to school to enter a field that requires licensing through a professional board, being convicted of DUI in Canon City can mean getting denied for licensure later in life after you graduate.
The long-term costs of DUI are not cheap.
Ready for more information? Speak to an expert DUI lawyer in Canon City and get a 100% honest assessment of your charges.
Contact us today for a FREE consultation. You can contact us by phone, text, live chat or by filling out this form.
We are available 24×7 to defend you. Payment plans are available.
The punishment for a first-time DUI in Colorado will depend on a few factors. The main factors being the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of the driver as well as is anyone was seriously injured. For a first-time DUI, depending on their BAC, a driver can face jail time up to one year, the revocation of their license for 9 months, community service, and alcohol classes. These penalties will be even steeper if there was an injury or death involved, or if there was a child in the car.
Colorado’s legal limit for a DUI is a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08. Anyone who is found to be operating a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher will be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI). These charges can be enhanced depending on the circumstances (like if there was a child in the car, or if someone was seriously injured).
Yes, in Colorado, a DUI is generally a criminal misdemeanor. However, a DUI can be elevated to a criminal felony if the driver causes the severe injury or death of another person, or if it is their 4th or more DUI (in any amount of time).
How long someone will lose their license for a DUI in Colorado depends on the specific circumstances of their arrest. For first a first-time DUI conviction, the minimum license revocation period is 9 months (which could be increased if their BAC was particularly high or if someone was injured). The suspension period will also be longer for any subsequent DUI convictions the driver faces.
The mandatory jail time for a DUI in Colorado depends on the BAC of the driver and whether they have any previous DUI convictions. There is no mandatory jail time for a first-time DUI unless the driver had a BAC above .200. Depending on the BAC, previous DUI convictions, and other factors (such as serious injury or death) there is the possibility of jail time from 5 days up to 2 years.
A DUI conviction will likely raise car insurance rates for 3 years at the very minimum. Usually, someone with a DUI conviction will see raised insurance rates for 5-7 years.
Under Colorado law, you have the right to refuse a preliminary breath test. A preliminary breath test is one that an officer wants to administer before an arrest has been made. However, once an officer places you under arrest, you are subject to Colorado’s “express consent” law and you will risk facing automatic penalties if you refuse the test.
