Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Blog
What Does a Shoplifting Charge Mean in Colorado?
In the Centennial state, shoplifting falls under the umbrella of theft offenses. Depending on where the shoplifting occurs, jurisdictionally, the resulting charges may be filed in either municipal court or county court. Municipal Court offenses typically occur within the municipality, like a city, where county court cases will occur within the jurisdiction, such as the county, and may occur within the municipality as well.
Possible Defenses for a Colorado Springs DUI Charge
Getting arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) can be a scary thing and you don’t always know what you can do to defend yourself when facing these charges. Having a DUI attorney there will help tremendously because they’ll bring with them the experience of different defenses that are effective in fighting Colorado DUI charges.
Penalties You Face for a Colorado Springs DUI Charge
Under Colorado law, a DUI is defined as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol above the legal limit, thereby affecting your ability to safely operate your vehicle. Being found with a blood alcohol level of above .08 can mean serious charges and penalties for you if you are convicted of drunk driving. Being found guilty of a DUI carries with it the possible penalties of fines, jail time, loss of your license, an increase on your insurance, and a permanent mark on your criminal record. The following are the potential punishments you may face if you are found guilty of driving under the influence in Colorado:
Possible Defenses for Colorado Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is a complex crime that is closely linked to identity theft. It can occur if someone obtains another person’s information for the purposes of making unauthorized transactions or in order to illegally withdraw funds from the card holder’s bank account. However, even the card holder themselves can be guilty of credit card fraud if they use their own credit card knowing that there aren’t enough funds in the account to cover the purchases being made.
Penalties for Credit Card Fraud in Colorado
Being involved in credit card fraud is never something a person wants to go through. It not only can ruin a person’s credit but also lead to serious financial consequences. In general, credit card fraud includes illegally obtaining someone else’s information, using one’s own card knowing that it is either revoked or lacks the necessary amount of money to cover the charges made on it, or knowingly using an illegally obtained card without authorization to sell something to someone else. Because credit card fraud involves using another person’s information to commit a crime, it is considered a form of identity theft.
DWAI Penalties in Colorado
In Colorado a DWAI (Driving With Ability Impaired) occurs when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is at least 0.05%, but less than 0.08%. For a driver who is under 21 years of age, the BAC limit is 0.02 percent. If you have been arrested for a DWAI in Colorado you have seven days to request a hearing. The hearing must be scheduled to take place within 60 days. You can expect to receive notice of the date of your hearing within three weeks of your request. If your license was valid at the time of your arrest, you will be provided with a temporary driver’s license until the time of your hearing.
Punishments for a Felony DUI Charge in Colorado
Colorado’s DUI laws can be difficult to understand as they differ slightly from some other U.S. states’ laws. The Centennial State has two DUI laws:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): This is enforced when the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) measures 0.08% or higher.
- Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI): This is enforced when the driver’s BAC measures 0.05% or higher, but is below 0.08%.
Possible DWAI Defenses in Colorado
The difference between drinking and driving laws in Colorado depends on the amount of alcohol in the driver’s blood. A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge is triggered when the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) measures above 0.08%. As well as DUI, Colorado also has penalties for Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI). This offence is triggered when a driver’s BAC measures 0.05% or higher but is below 0.08%.
What is a Driving with Excessive Alcohol Content or DUI, Per Se?
In Colorado, if you are being prosecuted for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol then you are likely being charged under two different crimes: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving with Excessive Alcohol Content, sometimes referred to as “DUI Per Se.” Most people understand what a DUI means but are unfamiliar with what a Driving with Excessive Alcohol Content (DEAC) means. The following addresses the fundamentals of a Driving with Excessive Alcohol Content charge.
What Does Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Mean in Colorado?
I often ask potential clients, and sometimes even other attorneys who call me to ask DUI related questions, what does driving under the influence mean in Colorado? This question will usually lead to a confused look, and the person responds by stating something like, “It means you drove drunk.” Usually, I’ll then ask, what does it mean to drive drunk? This question almost always receives an even more confused response.