DUI in Colorado
You were charged with driving under the influence in Colorado. That is an accusation. It is not a verdict. The Reisch Law Firm defends DUI cases from the Westminster office and takes cases around Colorado. Call (303) 291-0555.
What this charge means
A Colorado DUI charge alleges that you drove a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a combination of alcohol and drugs. The State claims your ability to operate the car was substantially impaired. That claim has to be proved. A roadside stop, a blood or breath number, or an officer’s opinion is not the end of the case.
DUI is different from DWAI (driving while ability impaired) and from DUID (drugs). The paperwork may list more than one count. Read the complaint. Do not assume every ticket is the same charge.
How these cases usually start
Most files start with a traffic stop, a crash, or a call for service. There may be field sobriety tests, a portable breath test, and a later blood or breath test. There may also be a DMV side of the case that runs on a different clock from the criminal case. Bond conditions can include no-alcohol testing. Breaking a condition is a separate problem.
Advisement after arrest is not the same as arraignment. You do not have to enter a plea at advisement. The district attorney decides what to file, what to add, and what to drop.
Issues that decide these cases
- Was the stop lawful? The reason for the stop is tested in court.
- What do the tests actually show? Observation notes, video, and lab or breath results are proof problems for the State, not automatic guilt.
- Is this DUI, DWAI, or both? Charging choices matter for negotiation and for trial.
- Prior alcohol history. Priors can change exposure. They still have to be proved when the statute requires it.
- Crash facts. Injury or property damage can stack companion counts. Those are separate fights.
These are questions for counsel and the record. If you have been charged, call the firm.
Penalties (confirm before you rely on this)
The class of this offense and the jail or prison range depend on the current statute, the date of the alleged offense, and any sentence enhancers on the complaint. We will not publish a class or a year range on this page as if it were locked 2026 law. Your charging document and the current Colorado Revised Statutes control.
Enhancers can include prior convictions, a domestic-violence designation, a protection-order count, a weapon fact, or consecutive sentences on other counts. Probation eligibility is not automatic. Past results do not guarantee future results. This page is not a promise about your sentence.
Court process in plain English
After an arrest, advisement is usually the first court date. The judge covers rights and bond. Advisement is not arraignment. You do not have to enter a plea there.
The district attorney decides whether to file, add counts, drop counts, or decline. Felony cases that start in county court may have a preliminary-hearing track before district-court arraignment. Discovery, motions, and trial setting follow if the case does not resolve.
Bond is a court order, not a finding of guilt. Conditions can include no contact, no weapons, testing, and GPS. Violating a condition can create a new filing. If you have questions about a condition, call the firm before you guess.
Why people call this firm on this charge
People call because their charge is listed, because they need a trial lawyer, or because a family member is in custody and the next court date is soon. Wrongfully accused or guilty as charged, the job is the same: test the State’s proof and protect the record.
The Reisch Law Firm works from one office in Westminster and takes cases around Colorado. We try cases in Colorado state court and in federal court when the case goes there. Call (303) 291-0555.
Related Colorado charges
What to do now
Call (303) 291-0555. Tell us the county and what the complaint or ticket says. The Reisch Law Firm defends Colorado criminal cases from one office in Westminster and takes cases around the state.
Call (303) 291-0555
The Reisch Law Firm
1490 West 121st Avenue, Suite 202, Westminster, CO 80234
Phone: (303) 291-0555
Back to Colorado Criminal Defense (A-Z)
Past results do not guarantee future results. Attorney advertising.
This page is general information. It is not legal advice and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The charging document and the current Colorado Revised Statutes control.
