 ■ COLORADO SPRINGS DRUNK DRIVING DEFENSE
Blood Alcohol Legal Limits
When you are out celebrating with friends, it can be easy to have one too many drinks. However, if you live in the State of Colorado, you may want to think twice. Colorado has some of the strictest drinking and driving laws in the country and one mistake could cost you thousands of dollars in fines, loss of your license or bodily injury. If you or someone you love was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), it is important to know what your rights are.
In the State of Colorado, a person is guilty of DUI if the blood alcohol content is >0.08. If you are charged with a DUI, you face criminal penalties including fines, imprisonment and public service. If your blood alcohol content is >.17, you can be labeled a persistent drunk driver and subjected to even greater penalties and jail time.
If a police officer suspects you of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will need to submit a test of your blood alcohol content. Everyone who chooses to drive on Colorado's roadways, gives implied consent to have their blood alcohol content (BAC) tested if they are suspected of a DUI. Even so, you can still refuse to take a BAC test. Unfortunately, failure to submit to a BAC test will result in severe penalties that can sometimes be far worse than even failing the test. Failure to take a BAC test will result in a mandatory loss of license for one full year.
Even though it is in your best interest to submit a BAC test, you do have choices. In the state of Colorado, suspects can choose to submit a blood test rather than a breath test. Blood testing is the single best way to accurately determine your blood alcohol content. In addition, police authorities have to follow certain guidelines when obtaining the blood samples.
- Blood samples must be obtained by a qualified healthcare professional, following proper procedures
- Blood test must be drawn within 2 hours from the time you were driving
- Blood test must not be contaminated in any way
If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI, it is important to contact an experienced Colorado defense attorney immediately. Unfortunately, the majority of people, who have been charged with DUI, do not seek legal assistance because they believe that there is nothing an attorney can do. This is far from the truth! Even if you failed a breathalyzer test, your attorney will need to evaluate whether the instrument was properly calibrated, whether the officer who took the test was properly trained, or whether any of your civil rights were violated during the arrest.
If you are charged with drunk driving, don't let the system destroy your life. DUI charges can affect job status, insurance payments and the ability to find work in the future. Luckily, someone is in your corner. Put Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Attorney Sarah Christensen on your side to possibly negotiate lighter sentencing, reduction in fines and secure a faster return of your driver's license, so you can breathe a little easier. |
