Colorado DUIs/DUIDs and Out-of-State Residents

Colorado has many fun adventures to offer visitors from around the country and around the world. With famous wintertime ski slopes and myriad other year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, not to mention exciting sports games and may other reasons for visiting Colorado, the state welcomes millions of visitors each year. Regardless of why an individual is in Colorado, he or she must abide by state laws, and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is no exception. Each year, many out-of-state visitors find themselves facing DUI and DUID charges in Colorado as a result of their time here. When that happens, out-of-state residents have many questions about what will happen next.

Out-of-State DUIs and DUIDs

If you are facing a Colorado DUI as an out-of-state resident, you must return to Colorado to face those charges and you will be liable for the same consequences and penalties as a Colorado resident if you are convicted. However, many Colorado residents convicted of a DUI are required to complete several probationary steps after conviction. This can be challenging for individuals out-of-state wondering how a Colorado conviction for these types of charges will impact their ability to drive in their home state.

The Driver License Compact

The Driver License Compact is an agreement between member states that share information about the driving record of licensed drivers in those states. Points received in Colorado will be reported to your home state in most circumstances, so this compact covers more than just DUIs and DUIDs. As such, a violation from Colorado will likely transfer to the driver’s license of an out-of-state resident. This means that an out-of-state offender’s home state will likely treat a Colorado DUI as if it happened in the home state if the home state is a member of the agreement.

Potential Probation Requirements

DUI and DUID probation is mandatory in Colorado. A Colorado court may take into consideration that a defendant is an out-of-state resident, but some elements of Colorado probation are not waivable. You will need to complete an alcohol and/or drug treatment program and demonstrate the successful completion of such a program to a Colorado court. Many counties will allow an individual offender to complete more informal probation requirements under the guidance of their home state, but it is difficult to predict exactly how such offenses will be handled as it often comes down to a case-by-case analysis. However, one certain thing is that you cannot escape the probation requirements and a Colorado DUI will almost certainly follow you home and impact your ability to drive in your home state. The Interstate Commission for Adult Supervision is sometimes employed as a method for monitoring compliance with Colorado probation requirements in another state, but it can be a difficult process.

Legal Assistance with Colorado DUIs and DUIDs

When you are an out-of-state resident and are facing these types of charges, it is important to understand how serious they are and to work with an experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney to defend against them. Colorado criminal defense attorneys who focus their practice on working with clients facing DUI and/or DUID charges are familiar with applicable state laws and can guide out-of-state clients through the Colorado legal process associated with these offenses. If you are an out-of-state resident facing these charges, contact the criminal defense team at Tiftickjian Law Firm to schedule a consultation and find out more about the charges you are facing as well as what they might mean for you in your home state.

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(image courtesy of Tobias Grietzke)