A few days ago, a traffic stop outside Denver turned into handcuffs and a night in a holding cell. Now you have a court date printed on a piece of paper, and you cannot stop staring at it. You live a thousand miles from Colorado. You have a job and a family, and you have no idea if the courts expect you to fly back for one hearing or five.
If you are a tourist arrested in Colorado for a DUI or something even more serious, you need someone on your side who understands Colorado criminal law inside and out. The Law Offices of Susan Deschler stands beside you as your guide.
We help many visitors who run into trouble in Colorado, and work to keep a single bad day from turning into a permanent mark on your record.
Can You Handle a Colorado Criminal Charge from Out of State?
In many cases, you may appear by video with court permission and not need to travel back to Colorado to answer your charge. Some bonds require court permission to leave Colorado.
Whether you can leave Colorado or have to fly back at all depends on your charge, your court, and how fast you hire a Colorado attorney after your arrest.
What Should You Do If You Are Arrested While Visiting Colorado?
Three steps in the days after your arrest can shape everything that follows:
- Keep every paper the officer or jail gives you, including the summons and bond paperwork, since it lists your court date;
- Contact a Colorado attorney before you leave the state, so counsel can advise whether you can leave, request a continuance (postponement), or file paperwork before your court date arrives; and
- Avoid discussing your case with anyone besides your attorney, including on social media, since prosecutors can and do review public posts.
How Colorado Criminal Law Classifies Your Charge
Every criminal case in Colorado falls into one of three broad categories. How much of the process requires your physical presence depends on the category your charge falls into:
- Traffic infractions carry the lightest penalties. These give you the most room to handle your case without showing up in person.
- Misdemeanors sit in the middle. A class 1 misdemeanor requires you to appear in person more so than a class 2 misdemeanor does.
- Felonies carry the most serious consequences. Felonies have the strictest rules about showing up in person.
What Happens Back Home if You Miss a Colorado Court Date?
Missing a court date can cause problems even after you fly home. If you miss a required appearance for a criminal matter, the court can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. For an infraction, the court could enter a default judgment of conviction against you.
For felony cases, your bond usually includes a signed extradition waiver. That means you already agreed not to fight your return to Colorado if you are arrested elsewhere.
Colorado also belongs to the Driver License Compact. This is an agreement among states that shares certain conviction records with your home state’s driver’s license agency. Your case does not disappear just because you left the State. Distance does not stop a bench warrant and does not stop a report to your home State’s driver’s license agency.
FAQs
Can I Attend My Colorado Hearing by Phone or Video?
Sometimes, yes. You and the judge have to agree to it. It depends on your pending charge.
Will a Pending Charge Affect Anything Before My Case Is Resolved?
Yes. A pending charge may still appear on a background check. That is why it helps to get legal advice early, even from far away.
Why Out-of-State Clients Choose The Offices of Susan Deschler to Defend Them
Susan Deschler has practiced law for 25 years and focused on criminal and traffic defense in courts since 2003. If you are managing a Colorado case from another State, she can often appear in court and negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf. She can walk you through every requirement long before you need to book a flight back here.
Our office operates as a solo practice, so clients speak directly with Susan on every call and every court appearance rather than working through staff. Susan can review your citation or charge and tell you, plainly, what Colorado law requires of you.
Reach out for a confidential consultation and find out how much of your case an attorney can handle while you get back to your life at home.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
