Are you charged with a Colorado DUI or DWAI?

In Colorado, drunk driving goes by two acronyms, DUI and DWAI. In Colorado, DUI stands for “driving under the influence,” and DWAI stands for “driving while ability impaired.” In addition, Colorado also has a “per se DUI” statute which makes it illegal to drive with an alcohol content of 0.080 or greater. It is possible to be charged with more than one count of Colorado DUI based on a single CO DUI arrest. Colorado DUI law is a complex web of statutes, administrative codes and judge-made case law. While this website gives an overview of what to expect and is meant to help you get started towards to best result in your case, there is no substitution for the advice of an experienced Colorado DUI lawyer.

How a Colorado DUI lawyer can help

If you are not a lawyer well versed in Colorado DUI law, criminal procedure, alcohol forensics and courtroom advocacy, it should be apparent to you that you should look into getting professional help. It may be that a lawyer would do you no good. On the other hand, a good Colorado DUI lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. The best way to find out what a lawyer can do for you is to interview at least a couple of lawyers. Most CO DWAI attorneys will offer a free initial consultation.

If you have a prior DUI conviction in Colorado, or in any other state, you should definitely not try to navigate the court system or talk with a prosecutor without the advice of counsel.

A good Colorado DUI lawyer will do many things for you

1. Give you a good and honest assessment of your case;
2. Point out the strengths and weaknesses in the State’s case, and explain to you how those things might help or hurt your chances;
3. Assess your goals, your family needs, your career situation and your license to give you a picture of what is realistic, including best and worst case scenarios;
4. Give you a quote of what their fees will costs, along with projected expenses, fines and other incidentals so that you can start to prepare yourself financially early on;
5. A good Colorado DUI attorney will take the time to listen to your concerns, and realize that while it is his or her job, it is your life. You should be treated like a human being, and not talked down to.
6. Most of all, the Colorado DUI lawyer who is right for you and your case will intuitively feel that way to you. You may need to interview several attorneys before you find the right one. Realize that you don’t owe a lawyer that you meet with anything, and you are under no obligation to hire him or her unless the “feel” is right.