Many drunk drivers in Colorado are first-time offenders who have never previously faced the criminal justice system. An arrest for DUI can be a frightening experience, especially if your DUI is the result of a one-time bad choice or mistake.
Whether you are facing a DUI charge or you are just curious to test your knowledge about DUI in Colorado, read on to see what you already know.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Colorado?
In Colorado, as in every state in the nation, the legal limit for blood alcohol content, BAC, is 0.08 percent. However, just knowing that number is not enough to keep you from driving when you have had too much to drink. It is critical that you understand how your body metabolizes alcohol and how many drinks are within the legal limit. Many factors come into play in determining BAC, including your gender, age, weight and the amount of time that passes between your last drink before you drive.
While the best policy is to never get behind the wheel if you have had anything to drink, the legal limit is there to help distinguish between drivers who can safely be on the roads despite having had something to drink and drivers who have had enough to become impaired.
Will I go to jail if I get a DUI?
You can get jail time for DUI in Colorado under certain circumstances. For example, if your BAC is 0.20 or higher, you are definitely more likely to serve time behind bars. Other factors that influence the possibility of jail time include whether or not there was a crash with your DUI and if there were injuries, as well as whether this is your first offense or not.
Knowing the laws surrounding DUI in Colorado is important if you plan to have alcohol during gatherings this holiday season. If the police arrest you for DUI, you should know that you do have options for a strategic defense and you do not have to plead guilty or accept a prosecutor’s offer to settle.
