When a police officer pulls you over in Colorado and asks you to exit your vehicle, an uneventful day can quickly become stressful. In such situations, it pays to know your rights ahead of time so you can respond to events as they unfold. Many people think they must do everything a police officer tells them to do and answer all questions asked in such circumstances. This isn’t entirely true although not cooperating by refusing to give a breath or blood sample, comes with its own set of negative consequences for the driver.
All states have their own laws regarding drunk driving. In Colorado, if you get arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, you must submit to chemical tests (which may include breath tests) to determine your blood alcohol content at the time. Of course, the police officer may be required to testify that he or she had probable cause to believe you were under the infulence, i.e. a reasonable basis for suspecting that you had committed the criminal offense of DUI.
In most cases, a chemical test must be conducted within two hours of the time you were last driving. You are able to choose which type of chemical test you take; however, if you refuse a breath test or other chemical test, your driver’s license will be suspended for one year on your first refusal. Suspension time increases with each subsequent offense.
If you’re unsure what effect a breath test refusal will have on your case, you should probably have the representation of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Almost everything you say and do during a traffic stop or the arrest process can later be used to incriminate you. Therefore, it’s typically best to align yourself with Boal Law Firm, P.C., who understands the law and has experience in fighting for clients facing alcohol-related and drug-related charges in court.