You have never seen the inside of a jail cell before tonight, and the fluorescent lights make three in the morning feel even longer than it already is. Someone mentioned a court date, a license revocation, maybe even a class you will have to take, but none of it stuck because your mind kept circling back to how you are going to explain this at work on Monday. You keep telling yourself that people go through this and come out fine, but you have no idea what “fine” actually means.
The Law Offices of Susan Deschler recognizes that your whole life is still ahead of you and will advocate on your behalf, while also explaining what is ahead before you decide your next move.
Should I Get a Lawyer for My First DUI?
Hiring a lawyer can help you understand what is at stake in the outcome. A first-offense DUI in Colorado carries potential jail time, fines, and consequences for your driving privileges that can disrupt work, family, and community obligations. Also, there are really two proceedings that may move forward simultaneously: the administrative DMV proceeding and the criminal court case. An attorney can address both by protecting your rights at each stage and working toward the best available result given the facts of the case.
What Penalties Come with a First Offense DUI in Colorado?
A first-offense DUI conviction can result in 5 days to 1 year in jail and a fine between $600 and $1,000. Separate consequences involving a person’s driving privileges may also apply, but those consequences depend on the driver’s individual record and circumstances.
Colorado also recognizes a lesser charge, driving while ability impaired, which carries its own separate range of penalties. The distinction between the two often comes down to the degree of impairment the evidence shows, and it is one of the first issues a defense attorney examines.
Track 1: What Is the DMV Process After a DUI Arrest?
The Department of Motor Vehicles handles the licensing aspect of a DUI arrest independently of the criminal case, and this process may begin after a qualifying chemical test result, refusal, or other circumstances affecting a person’s driving privileges.
The consequences are not necessarily the same for every driver. Prior driving history, existing license restraints, chemical test results or refusals, and other individual circumstances can affect a person’s DMV status and the requirements that apply.
Because DMV consequences are case-specific, a driver should verify their current license status and any applicable requirements directly with the Colorado DMV rather than relying on a general description of revocation or reinstatement rules.
When a DMV hearing is available, a hearing officer considers the evidence and determines whether the legal grounds for administrative action have been established.
Track 2: What Is the Court Process for a First DUI Charge?
Separately from the DMV process, the local prosecutor prosecutes the criminal case through the Colorado courts, beginning with a summons and a first court appearance. A conviction can lead to fines, jail time, probation, restitution, and a court-ordered alcohol and drug evaluation that determines whether a defendant completes an education program or a longer treatment track. Because this process runs independently of the DMV case, a result in one does not decide the outcome of the other, and a defendant needs a strategy for each.
What Can a First-Offense DUI Lawyer Do for You?
A defense attorney looks for weaknesses at every stage of the case, starting with the traffic stop itself. This includes whether the officer had a valid reason to pull you over, whether field sobriety tests were administered correctly, and whether the breath or blood test complied with the procedures required by law.
An attorney can also negotiate with the prosecutor, request that the DMV hearing officer subpoena the arresting officer, and, where the facts support it, seek dismissal rather than a conviction. None of this happens automatically. It takes someone who understands how Colorado prosecutors and DMV hearing officers evaluate these cases.
Is It Worth Hiring an Attorney for a DUI, or Is This Something to Handle Alone?
Many first-time defendants ask whether they should get a lawyer for their first DUI offense when the case seems straightforward. The honest answer is that few DUI cases are as simple as they may first appear. Breath and blood testing equipment requires regular calibration and proper handling, field sobriety tests can be unreliable, and officers must follow specific procedures at every step.
A first-offense DUI lawyer reviews the evidence before a client decides how to plead, and that review may reveal options a defendant did not recognize on their own. Given the stakes, including potential restrictions on your driving privileges, a criminal record, and the higher penalties that may apply to any future DUI or DWAI conviction, the cost of hiring an attorney has to be weighed against the consequences of handling the case without a full review of the evidence and the available defenses.
The Law Offices of Susan Deschler Focuses on DUI Defense
Susan Deschler focuses her practice on criminal and traffic law, and DUI defense sits at the center of that work. The American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys has named her one of the ten best attorneys in this category twice, and she is a member of the National College for DUI Defense.
Susan moved to Colorado in the spring of 2015 and has spent the years since building a practice across Summit, Clear Creek, Grand, Gilpin, and Eagle Counties, so she knows how these cases move through Colorado courtrooms.
Get Direct Guidance from a Colorado DUI Attorney
A first DUI arrest does not determine what happens next. The right guidance now can help protect a license, a record, and the choices available for years to come. Schedule your consultation with the Law Offices of Susan Deschler to discuss your first DUI charge and what comes next.
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