If you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in Colorado, the consequences you face may be serious. In some cases, however, you may experience some consequences well before a conviction. If you are arrested on suspicion of DUI, you will be taken to jail and may have to obtain a bond in order to be released. This bond is basically insurance that you will appear for your scheduled court date. If you have two prior DUI convictions on your record, a new Colorado law passed in 2011 requires the criminal courts to impose additional bond conditions to which you must adhere to remain out of jail. If you violate any conditions of your bond, the court can revoke your bond and send you back to jail for the duration of your case.
After multiple DUIs, some conditions may include the following:
- Have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle (if you have a valid license)
- Attending a substance abuse treatment program
- Abstain from using substances and take random drug and alcohol tests
- Electronic monitoring via a SCRAM bracelet
What is a SCRAM bracelet?
The Secure, Continuous, Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) bracelet is a device worn on your ankle that detects alcohol consumption by measuring the amount of alcohol exuding from your skin at frequent intervals. The SCRAM continuously transmits alcohol readings to a modem, which sends the results to Alcohol Monitoring Systems Inc., the company that makes the SCRAM devices. AMS then notifies the probation department if there are any readings that are positive for alcohol. If your SCRAM reports any level of alcohol, your bond may be revoked and you may have to return to jail.
The reliability of SCRAM bracelets has been under debate. Some concerns involve the bracelet detecting other forms of ethyl alcohol and reporting it as alcohol consumption. For example, much confusion was caused in one case in which hairspray reportedly triggered a SCRAM alert. A 17-year-old girl worked in a hair salon and her exposure to hairspray led to three separate alerts. In addition to reliability questions, a SCRAM may not be removed, even while working or sleeping. This means that everyone you encounter has a chance to see your SCRAM bracelet and know that you are in trouble with the law.
There are ways that a DUI defense attorney can fight bond conditions such as the SCRAM bracelet. For this reason, you should always contact an attorney as soon as you are arrested so that he or she may begin assisting you from the very start.
Contact an Experienced Denver DUI Defense Attorney for Assistance Today
If you are facing DUI charges or have been arrested, it is highly important that you contact an experienced DUI defense attorney who is familiar with Colorado drunk driving laws. The lawyers at the Tiftickjian Law Firm are well-known for aggressively defend DUI cases and will consider all of the best options for each individual client. Call our office today at (303) DUI-5280 to discuss your case today.
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