If you have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Colorado, you may already be facing a driver’s license suspension—even if you have not been convicted of any crime. The suspension related to the arrest is an administrative action taken by the Colorado Department of Vehicles (DMV), not a criminal penalty. Unfortunately, its effects on your life are the same no matter who enforces the suspension.
If you’ve been stopped on suspicion of DUI and are facing a license suspension, the length of the suspension depends on whether the stop was your first, second, or later stop. For a first stop, the suspension period lasts nine months, although you can get your license reinstated after one month with certain restrictions, such as the use of an ignition interlock device. You may need to fulfill other requirements as well, such as obtaining an SR-22 certificate of insurance from your auto insurance company and paying the DMV fee for reinstatement.
If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.17 or above when you were stopped, you may be considered a “high BAC offender” and be required to complete an alcohol treatment course in addition to other requirements in order to apply for early reinstatement.
You may have your experienced Colorado Springs DUI defense attorney represent you at the hearing to reinstate your license. You or your attorney should request this hearing as soon as possible, so it’s important to contact an attorney quickly after a stop or arrest on suspicion of drunk driving has been made.