Mothers Against Drunk Driving have teamed up with the Colorado legislature in an effort to stop repeat drunk driving offenders. It is often believed that once someone has been stopped for possible DUI/DUID/DWAI that the driver would be too scared to do anything that could lead officers to once again believe that he or she was driving impaired. Unfortunately, there are times when one makes the same mistake more than once.
Currently, there is a mandatory 60 day jail term for those convicted of a third DUI/DUID/DWAI offense. In other words, whenever an individual is charged and found guilty of drunk driving, the judge has no choice but to order that the individual serve at least 60 days in jail in addition to fines and penalties imposed. However, this mandatory term appears to only apply to those convicted of a third offense.
For those convicted a fourth or even a fifth time, there is currently no minimum sentencing requirement. Any time served is at the discretion of the judge, and it is possible that the individual will not serve any jail time for these offenses. However, a new bill has been introduced that mandates a minimum 90 day jail terms for anyone convicted of a fourth or fifth offense.
A conviction for DUI/DUID/DWAI in Colorado can have serious repercussions. In addition to the monetary fines, increase in insurance premiums, license suspension and mandatory jail time, there is the possibility that it will have an effect on one’s current employment. Many individuals discover that an experienced defense team is essential in addressing such charges.
Source: the denverchannel.com, “DUI Bill Increases Penalties for Frequent Offenders“, Connor Wist, April 13, 2017