Greeley Criminal Law Blog

3 possible outcomes of a DUI traffic stop

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Monday, September 17, 2018.

Around major holidays, it is not uncommon to hear about law enforcement establishing sobriety checkpoints to ensure drivers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even when it is not a holiday weekend, there are typically cops on the road patrolling for drivers they suspect may be inebriated. There are many reasons why police may target you for such a traffic stop.

If you find yourself pulled over and facing this situation, there are a few possible outcomes you can expect. Regardless of what happens, you should remain calm, obey an officer's requests and be respectful at all times. The following are three potential results that may occur.

Reckless endangerment: putting someone else at risk

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Monday, September 3, 2018.

You didn’t mean for it to happen, but when you and a few of your buddies were horsing around, one of them sustained an injury. Now, you are facing reckless endangerment charges because it was your actions that caused your friend’s injury. You and other Colorado residents should understand the circumstances and penalties surrounding this type of charge.

What exactly is reckless endangerment? FindLaw explains it as behavior that places the life or safety of someone else at risk. For example, a parent may face reckless endangerment charges for leaving a child in a hot car. Authorities may charge a driver with reckless endangerment for drag racing through a busy area. A babysitter may face charges if she temporarily left the house to visit friends down the street and the children suffered injuries because she left them without supervision.

Whose drugs are they?

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

If you face any type of drug charges in Colorado, a conviction could put you in prison for a number of years. You may also have to pay a substantial fine. Naturally the conviction penalties depend on which kind of drug law enforcement officers allege you possessed when they arrested you and the quantity thereof.

No matter what specific drug charges you face, in order for the prosecutor to prove your guilt, (s)he must first prove that you possessed the drugs in question. (S)he has two ways of doing this: actual possession and constructive possession.

3 forms of domestic violence not involving physical harm

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

Relationships are difficult. Even couples who are compatible and deeply in love inevitably fight, and sometimes those fights can become volatile. When voices are raised and passions are high, it can be difficult to control emotions and reign in impulses. This is the situation that often precedes instances of domestic violence. If it sounds familiar, you could be facing such charges and wondering what to do.

The term "domestic violence" conjures up images of physical harm and battery, but in reality, it does not always have to be physical at all. In fact, you might face charges of domestic violence without ever hurting the alleged victim. Consider the following three ways that this charge can stem from a nonphysical offense.

Breathalyzer accuracy can be challenged in DUI cases

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

If you have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, you may be quite nervous, especially if this is your first offense.

You took a breathalyzer test to determine your blood alcohol content level, but were the results accurate? An incident that occurred in Philadelphia illustrates that the equipment used in such a test is not infallible.

Is DWAI a criminal charge in Colorado?

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Monday, June 4, 2018.

In Colorado, you can face charges even if you are 21 or older and your BAC is under the 0.08 percent threshold that normally signals a DUI charge. These "lesser" charges are DWAI charges, or driving while ability impaired charges. If you are facing such an offense, you may wonder if DWAIs are criminal charges or if they are more like traffic tickets that do not show up on a criminal history.

The answer is that DWAIs are indeed criminal charges. They are traffic misdemeanors and worth taking just as seriously as DUI charges.

How much does a Colorado DUI conviction cost you?

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Friday, May 18, 2018.

If you receive a charge and subsequent conviction for drunk driving (DUI) in Colorado, you can anticipate considerable penalties if convicted. Depending on the details of your case, you may face jail time, fines, the loss of your license and related penalties.

The fees and fines associated with a Colorado DUI conviction are substantial, and in fact, the costs of a DUI are rising. The Colorado Department of Transportation expects a 32-percent uptick in the average amount you will pay for a DUI conviction going forward.

5 common types of property crime

On behalf of McAdams Law Office posted in blog on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

Property crime is common in the United States. According to the FBI, there were approximately nine million property crime offenses in the country. This high number is partially due to the fact that there are numerous types of offenses that fall under the umbrella of property crime.

Property crimes range from low-level offenses to serious felonies. Here are some of the most common examples of crimes against property.

Can you sleep alcohol off in your car?

On behalf of McAdams Law Office posted in blog on Sunday, March 18, 2018.

Many people in Colorado who otherwise might drive intoxicated decide instead to sleep the alcohol off in their car. While this seems like a smart and safe decision for everyone, it could actually lead to the person getting a DUI charge.

Your case may come down to whether you can show you were not "driving."

The proven, positive effects of drug court

On behalf of McAdams Law Office posted in blog on Friday, March 9, 2018.

If you are charged with a drug-related crime in Colorado, you may justifiably have concerns about how your possible conviction might impact your life. Jail time, steep fines and substance abuse treatment are all possible consequences for your actions, but depending on your criminal history and the details surrounding your offense, you may have an alternative option available to you.

Drug courts are supervised programs available to some nonviolent drug offenders. The main sentiment behind drug courts is that they can hold you accountable for your actions, but they can also help you beat your addiction for good, which may keep you from committing additional crimes. According to the National Association of Drug Court professionals, these programs have numerous proven, positive effects. For example, drug courts: