Protecting a motorist’s right to drive is among the primary responsibilities of an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer in Brighton and Fort Collins.

Most Colorado residents rely on the freedom and independence that comes with driving rights for everything from running errands, to driving to and from work (or for work), to taking their kids to school or events.

Unfortunately, the law does not care. Being charged with drunk driving results in an automatic suspension or revocation of your driving rights unless you fight the charges. Many defendants are shocked to learn this may be the case even if you beat the criminal case!

Colorado uses a two-stage process for sanctioning drunk drivers. The DMV administrative hearing, administered through the Colorado Department of Revenue, handles administrative sanctions, including the loss or suspension of your driving rights. You have just 7 days from the time of arrest (or the time blood-test results are issued in cases where a blood draw is conducted) to request a hearing. That’s why early consultation with an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer in Brighton or Fort Collins is critical. Not only can an experienced defense lawyer fight to maintain your driving rights, he can also review much of the evidence against you in advance of defending you in criminal court, where sanctions can include mandatory alcohol classes, fines, community service and jail time.

Colorado’s persistent drunk-driving statute also carries increased penalties for those who test above .15, for those who refuse to test, for those with previous convictions, and for those who are arrested for driving without a valid license as a result of a DUI suspension or revocation.

Unfortunately, motorists too often plead guilty to an initial charge in an attempt to put an embarrassing episode behind them. Necessity being what it is, they attempt to drive on a limited basis, to and from work for instance, believing they can ride out the suspension without getting re-arrested. Too often, they fail to realize how frequently they will be stopped once a drunk driving charge is on their driving record. Soon, they have more legal trouble than they ever thought possible.

In other cases, visitors to Colorado who are charged with DUI may either quickly plead guilty, or go back to their home state and ignore the charges. Both are a mistake. Most DMVs have reciprocal agreements with Colorado, which means your license will be suspended. You may even face tougher sanctions in your home state and may be ineligible for early driving rights. In most cases, an experienced Colorado defense lawyer can defend you against the charges without you ever having to return to Colorado to appear before the court.

With a veteran drunk driving defense lawyer in Brighton and Fort Collins, we believe the best defense is a good offense. Please take advantage of our free and confidential consultations to reach out to us as soon as possible after arrest and see how we can help.

You can save yourselves years of legal headaches, and thousands of dollars, by confronting these charges head-on. First-time offenders stand a substantial chance of winning a reduction or dismissal of the charges with the help of an experienced defense lawyer. Even repeat offenders are in much better hands when consulting qualified legal help than they are when attempting to go it alone. Our Fort Collins DUI Defense Attorney represents clients in Brighton and throughout Adams and Weld counties, as well as Larimer County and the Fort Collins area, including Loveland, Berthound, Estes Park, Johnstown, Timnath, Wellington and Windsor.

Call 970-592-2805 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.