Many of our readers in Colorado may know that there are some significant penalties associated with being convicted on a drunk driving charge, not the least of which is a driver’s license suspension. Having your driver’s license suspended can be crippling, leaving you dependent upon others for rides to work or the grocery store, for example, and in general not allowing the freedom of movement you had before. However, beyond a driver’s license suspension, there are some other common penalties associated with a conviction for DUI that can change the way you live your life.
The penalties associated with a DUI conviction can vary, depending on the nature of each individual case. For example, a person who has multiple DUI convictions on their criminal record will likely receive a much harsher sentence than a first-time DUI offender. In fact, a person convicted of multiple DUI cases over the course of time may eventually be sentenced to serve time in prison.
In most other DUI cases, those who are convicted of the charges can probably expect to be placed on a term of court supervision through the probation department. This means that, while the person is free to go back home and go about their business, the person must frequently check in with the probation department and abide by a strict set of rules governing their behavior. Those rules will likely include the requirement to attend substance abuse treatment counseling, as well as refraining from alcohol use or going to places where alcohol use is prevalent.
In the immediate aftermath of a DUI arrest, an arrestee in Colorado may not grasp the scale of potential penalties that might result if a conviction occurs. That is why it is so important to immediately begin crafting a criminal defense strategy.