Red Bull, Sleeping Pills and Chocolate All Ingredients for DUIs
Recently, Kerry Kennedy stood trial for driving under the influence of drugs and consequently causing an accident with a tractor-trailer. The drug in question wasn’t marijuana or cocaine, but a generic sleeping pill akin to Ambien. Could something as innocent as a sleep aid really lead to a DUI? The simple answer is yes. DUI […]
Why Toking Up on the Slopes Just Isn’t Worth It
If you’ve been inspired by the Olympians currently dominating our television screens and are heading up to the mountains to try your own hand at some gold-medal stunts this weekend, here’s a useful tip: Leave the weed at home. We know. Everyone on the chairlift is doing it, and resort officials—though irritated—haven’t been very successful […]
Colorado Begins Clearing Up Marijuana Open Container Laws
As we predicted, clarifying marijuana’s open container laws has become a top priority for Colorado legislators. Last week, State Senator Pat Steadman introduced a bill to make it harder for law enforcement officials to fine drivers with “improperly” sealed pots in their vehicles. Under the current law, an open container of marijuana includes anything containing […]
Colorado Proposes Upgrading Repeat DUIs to Felonies
Colorado is considering upping the ante by handing out felonies to repeat DUI offenders. All DUIs are misdemeanor offenses at the moment. Still, a bill currently under review by the Colorado House Judiciary would elevate a fourth lifetime DUI to a felony. It would also make a third DUI within seven years a felony offense. […]
Tips on Driving with Marijuana in Colorado
As Colorado embraces the legal recreational use of marijuana—an important experiment, according to President Obama, one of the issues yet to be clarified concerns driving around while in possession of the drug. The simple truth is you cannot just dump a plate of tinfoil-wrapped brownies in the passenger seat or stash a few joints in […]
D’oh! DUI?: The Toy Car
We’ve devoted a fair amount of posts in this series to all the unconventional contraptions in which you can earn a DUI. Still, now it’s time to return to the dear old automobile itself— in a manner of speaking. Do you remember your very first car? No, not the prized jalopy you drove into your […]
7 Things Everyone (Even the Sober) Needs to Know About Holiday Checkpoints
As you head out for another holiday party, Colorado is running its last anti-drunk driving crackdown of the year. Prepare yourself with these seven tips we contributed to a 7News/The Denver Channel article on holiday checkpoints, and read up on just how effective these enforcement campaigns are with our bonus infographic. Drive safe this festive […]
Beyond Cars: Unusual DUI Offenses Involving Unexpected Vehicles
Recently, we introduced a new column to ponder the many modes of transportation that put the “drive” in DUI. And so, as we strolled through downtown Denver this weekend, admiring the twinkly lights and horse-drawn carriages, our first thought was not: “How romantic!” but rather: “Can you get a DUI in that?” It turns out […]
Colorado Eases Consequences for Refusing Sobriety Breath Tests
Did you know you can refuse when a police officer asks for a breath test to assess your sobriety? In the past, refusing a breath, blood, urine, or saliva test that measures Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) meant automatically surrendering driving privileges for an entire year. Now, however, those who decline their first request for a […]
Will a DUI Also Impact My Pilot’s License?
Suppose you hold a pilot’s license and find yourself facing charges of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) or have experienced administrative license revocation. In that case, you must be aware of an additional layer of responsibility – reporting the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This crucial step […]