Colorado Springs Legal Blog

Many drivers in Colorado would likely report having more difficulty seeing at night. When this limited visibility is combined with fatigue and flashing lights, it is easy to see how a driver could easily become disoriented. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers may be quick to assume that an accident under such circumstances is the result of a driver who is DUI rather than a relatively simple oversight.

In fact, police claim that DUI was a factor in a recent car accident that reportedly sent two police officers to the hospital. According to reports, one officer was conducting a traffic stop during the early morning hours of a day in February.  A second officer reportedly arrived at the scene to provide extra protection for the first.

Because you are a reasonable adult, you understand that police officers have a job to do. However, you may understandably wonder in certain cases whether an officer has carried out his or her duties correctly or whether an officer suspects you of a crime when you have done nothing wrong. If an officer starts asking you a number of questions, you may feel like a suspect.

You may experience this feeling if a police officer stops your vehicle and questions your sobriety. In fact, the officer may ask you questions that seem unrelated to drinking and driving, but the possibility exists that he or she is still trying to gather evidence against you for a possible DUI. In this type of scenario, you may want to remember your right to remain silent.

There are multiple distractions while driving. Something as simple as changing the radio station can be all it takes to distract a driver. Unfortunately, it may be easy to assume that an accident was the result of a driver who is under the influence of alcohol. For example, a man was recently charged with DUI, among other charges, after he was reportedly involved in a traffic accident in Colorado.

The incident that led to the charges against the man reportedly happened around 3:30 p.m. on a day in January. According to reports, a 47-year-old male driver lost control of his vehicle while driving on a Colorado roadway. Unfortunately, the vehicle allegedly jumped a median and crossed into oncoming traffic.

A driving under the influence offense, also called a DUI, ends up being much more expensive than a simple fine. Although every situation is different, there are many hidden costs that can add to the financial expense.

If this is your first DUI, you face between $600 and $1,000 in fines, between 48 and 96 hours of community service and jail time ranging from five days to one year. This penalty goes up with subsequent offenses.