Colorado Springs Out of State DUI Attorneys
A Colorado DUI Can Affect Out of State Drivers in Their Home State
Colorado has amazing scenery, fabulous ski resorts, and fantastic vacation spots that draw visitors from out-of-state in the thousands. A person from another state who is arrested for DUI in Colorado is treated exactly as a Coloradan facing the same charge. Even though you will likely be permitted to return home after being cited, you will be required to return to Colorado to appear for future court proceedings.
A DUI charge is a serious legal matter. If you have been charged with DUI while visiting Colorado from another state, the best action to take is to retain a reputable defense attorney in Colorado that has a proven track record of positive case outcomes. A DUI conviction in Colorado can lead to very heavy penalties. Most of these penalties will be imposed by Colorado, but your home state may also impose penalties as a result of a Colorado DUI conviction.
Attorney Tim Bussey with The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. has been practicing law since 1991. He is a former prosecutor, former active-duty Judge Advocate with the U.S. Air Force, and former Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado. Mr. Bussey has experience on both sides of the courtroom – prosecuting and defending – and he has successfully handled hundreds of DUI cases over his years in practice.
Complications With a Colorado DUI for Out of State Residents
Forty-five of the U.S. states, including Colorado, have reciprocity agreements through a process called the Driver License Compact. Pursuant to this agreement, among other interstate compacts, States share and exchange information about serious traffic offenses, including DUI. If you are convicted of DUI in Colorado, it will be reported to your home state and you may face suspension or revocation of your driver's license in your home state. This suspension or revocation is separate from any suspension or revocation imposed by any Colorado agency or court. Your DUI conviction will also be reported to the National Driver Register, a database of all drivers convicted of serious driving offenses such as DUI and drivers whose licenses have been revoked or suspended. You can read more about the National Driver Register here.
In Colorado, non-residents are not eligible for early reinstatement of their driving privileges. You will be required to serve out the full revocation period with no driving privileges for varying lengths of time. However, you must still follow the requirements imposed by the Colorado DMV for license reinstatement. If you fail to complete the requirements for reinstatement, the Colorado DMV will not lift the hold on your license in the National Registry. As a result of the hold not being lifted, you may be unable to reinstate your driving privileges in your home state.
If you have a prior conviction for an alcohol related traffic offense, or if your BAC/BrAC was greater than a 0.20, you will be facing mandatory jail time in a Colorado. If you are sentenced to probation in Colorado while you reside in another state, probation is typically transferred to your home state. However, your home state is not required to accept your probation unless each of five separate conditions laid out in Rule 2.105 of the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision is met. One of those conditions is that it must be your second or subsequent DUI or DWAI conviction.
To read more about transferring probation to another state, you can find the full text of the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision here.
Dedicated Colorado Springs Out of State DUI Lawyers
DUI cases for out of state residents can be complicated, and the stakes are high. You need a powerful DUI defense attorney with a proven track record to protect your rights, your interests, and to fight for a positive outcome your case.
Our team at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. has the knowledge, resources, personal drive and commitment to each person we represent and are here to help you with your DUI charges in Colorado if you live out of state. Call our office today to schedule a free and confidential consultation. The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can be reached at (719) 475-2555.
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