DUI Attorneys

Denver Attorneys vs. Colorado Springs Attorneys

December 16 in DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

When you have been involved in a DUI case, it is extremely important to have the best representation available.  If you have been charged with a DUI anywhere in Colorado, you have to choose whether you will find a lawyer in Denver or in Colorado Springs.  Although Denver is a larger metropolitan area than Colorado Springs, you will likely not get as much specialized attention.  In a smaller city like Colorado Springs, any attorney who represents you will be better able to provide you with the attention your case needs.

I was involved in a DUI case last March when I was driving from Colorado Springs to Thornton, Colorado.  I had a few too many drinks earlier in the night and I was pulled over for swerving too much.  I was driving on Interstate 25 and I was apparently tailing other vehicles and swerving into other lanes.  The police officer pulled me over and administered a DUI test.  Once it was determined that I was driving under the influence, the police officer arrested me and took me to jail for the night.

My husband was able to post bail for me and then I knew the next step was finding a reliable DUI attorney in Denver or in Colorado Springs.  I immediately decided to look for an attorney in Denver because I believed a Denver DUI attorney would be more experienced than one in Colorado Springs.  I met with four different Denver DUI attorneys and quickly found out I was not going to get the best representation.  It seemed as if each attorney had about 200 clients and was not going to provide me with enough attention.  Additionally, each Denver attorney had outrageous fees for taking on my case.

I decided to contact a Colorado Springs DUI attorney to take my case.  I quickly found out that the attorney would be able to offer me his time at a very affordable rate.  The attorney I chose immediately began working on my case and provided me with the best representation.  On the day of my court date, my attorney was able to reduce my DUI fines and keep me out of jail.  At the end of my case, my license was revoked for six months and I had a small fine to pay.  I was very happy with my choice to contact Colorado Springs DUI lawyers. – Linda Blakely

When you have been charged with a DUI, contact a DUI attorney Colorado Springs knows will help your case.

 

Be Careful During the Holidays

December 12 in DUI Advice, DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

The Colorado Highway Patrol and Colorado Springs police are much more strict about DUI charges during the holiday season.  Every year, the Colorado Springs police see the number of drunk drivers rise and they would like to do anything possible to curve the number of people driving illegally, even if that means harsher penalties, fines or even jail time.

We spoke with Jeremy Brenner, a resident of Colorado Springs, who recently received a DUI charge following a family trip over Thanksgiving.  For the knowledge of other people who may be thinking about drinking and driving, Jeremy has asked us to share his story here.

Every year, my girlfriend and I drive up to Greeley to have Thanksgiving dinner with my mother and father-in-law.  My entire family gathers for the meal, to watch football and to a have a few drinks afterward.  Unfortunately, a few drinks turned into too many drinks this year.  I was having a few beers with my brothers throughout the day and we decided to keep drinking into the evening.  I knew I was pretty close to my limit, but I figured my girlfriend could drive us back to the Springs if I actually got too intoxicated.  Little did I know, my girlfriend was upstairs the entire time drinking wine with my mother.

When we both got ready to drive home, I asked her to drive.  She explained to me that she was not feeling at her best and that I should.  I told her I was a little intoxicated, but I felt I could handle the drive.  My mother offered to have us stay with her for the night, but we both felt we could make the two hour drive back to Colorado Springs.

We headed for Interstate 25 and began our trek home.  I was doing fine at first, but noticed my usual level of coordination was not there.  I was swerving quite a bit and was worried about my driving the closer we got to Colorado Springs.  We were able to make it past downtown Denver, but then I was pulled over close to home.  It was a very embarrassing ordeal and I was fined $1,500 for it, even after contacting a Colorado Springs DUI attorney.  Looking back on the situation, I wish we would have just stayed in Greeley and avoided this entirely. – Jeremy Brenner

If you find yourself in a similar situation as Jeremy, please do not attempt to drive.  If you choose to drink and drive, you could be pulled over, be arrested, endanger other people and have to pay for a Colorado Springs DUI attorney to get involved.  A Colorado Springs DUI is a serious offense and will be fully enforced by the law.  We hope this helps you if you are thinking about drinking and driving!

 

 

Drinking at Sporting Events

October 26 in DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

We all like to go to a sports game and have a hot dog, a pretzel and a beer.  But how much is too much?  Many people attend sporting events and have too much to drink and then end up driving home after the game.  In Colorado, we have the Denver Broncos, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rockies and the Colorado Avalanche.  With so many professional sports teams and sporting events to attend, there is too much opportunity for people to exhibit drunk driving behavior.

While it is fun to drink and have a good time at a sporting event, you must put a limit on how much you have to drink.  People generally have one to two beers per game, but then there are some people who take things too far and drink way too much.  These people need to avoid driving to the game if they plan to consume excessive amounts of alcohol.  If you or your friend plans to drink more than two beers at a professional sports game, you should plan to have a sober driver to take you home after the game.

We recently spoke with Donny Hendrickson, an avid Denver Nuggets fan, who tried to drive home drunk after a playoff game last season.  He admitted to having five beers at the game and said he knew his behavior was irresponsible.  As he left the Pepsi Center for his home in Colorado Springs, he was well aware that he was driving drunk and could have caused an accident, or worse, a fatality.  Thankfully, Denver’s highway patrol followed Hendrickson for about ten miles and then pulled him over.  The patrol officers could tell he had been driving and went through the typical driving under the influence (DUI) routine.  He was arrested on the spot and his car was impounded.  Luckily for Hendrickson, it was his first DUI offense and the charges were not severe.  His license was revoked and he was left facing large fines.  Hendrickson now avoids driving to professional sports games even when he only plans to have one or two beers at the game.  His experience proves that you should not drink a lot at sports games and attempt to drive afterward.  If it is not your first offense, you will likely be spending more time in jail and have very expensive fines.

Immediately after receiving his charges, Hendrickson contacted a Colorado Springs DUI attorney to help reduce some of his charges, which the attorney was able to do.  If you find yourself in a similar situation and need a DUI attorney, Colorado Springs has many experienced professionals who can help.

Recently Charged?

October 24 in DUI Advice, DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

If you have recently been charged with a driving under the influence charge or other criminal offense, do you know what to do?  Are you aware of your rights?  Attorneys in Colorado Springs are trying to reach out to those charged with crimes to ensure they can be properly represented.

Attorneys in Colorado Springs are very aware of the consequences of a DUI charge and know how to help.  It happens all too often that people get charged with a crime and are unaware of their rights.  They end up getting put in jail when they did not necessarily have to.  Although a DUI charge is a serious charge, there are ways to reduce your jail time and / or associated fines.

If you or a friend has recently been charged with a DUI, contact one of the many Colorado Springs DUI attorneys to help with your case.  At the very least, an attorney will help reduce your jail time.

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The Best Representation: A Testimonial

October 23 in DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

Whether you have been involved in a car accident, a domestic dispute or a driving under the influence charge, you need the best representation.  Without above average representation, you could be looking at a longer prison sentence or a larger fine.

Frank Turner, a resident of Colorado Springs, was recently charged with driving under the influence.  Although Turner admitted he was at fault and was indeed guilty for the crime he had been charged with, he wanted to find the best possible outcome for his situation.  After weighing his options and researching local law offices, Turner decided to work with a firm that specialized in DUI defense.  The attorney he was dealing with happily took on the case and began working on it immediately.

Turner’s biggest concern involving his charge was the jail time that would be associated with it.  Because it was not his first offense, he was certain he would be facing a considerable amount of jail time.  His attorney noted this concern and developed a plan of action to reduce the amount of jail time he would be given.  Turner further noted that he was the sole provider for his family and that excessive jail time would devastate his family.

As the sole provider for my wife and kids, I cannot spend a lot of time in jail.  I don’t know how they are supposed to put food on the table without me, so I have to be there and I have to be able to work.  I know what I did was wrong, but there has to be a better way to punish me for my crime and allow me to still provide for my family. – Frank Turner

The attorney quickly realized that Turner works for a local mining facility that only operates Monday through Friday, which would be a big factor in resolving his case.  As the attorney and Turner entered court last month, the attorney emphasized Turner’s dilemma and was able to reduce his jail time.  Instead of serving a consecutive number of days in jail, the judge would allow Turner to serve one weekend a month for the next 18 months.  This would allow him to serve his time and still work during the week to provide for his family.

Cases like Frank Turner’s are very common to DUI law firms.  Finding the best representation from a firm that is tailored to your crime is critical to attaining the best outcome for your case.  If you have been charged with a Colorado Springs DUI, you must understand the options available to you and find excellent representation.  For a DUI attorney, Colorado Springs has many qualified and professional attorneys who can help you find the best resolution to your charge.

Celebrities & DUI Charges

October 12 in DUI Advice, DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

Driving under the influence is a common thing among many people, including celebrities.  It was recently reported that Ben Wallace, a former NBA player known for his strict defensive play, was arrested for a DUI outside of Detroit, Michigan.  Before his professional basketball career came to a close, Wallace was the Detroit Piston’s defensive leader.  Now, after retiring from the NBA last season, he is enjoying his retirement too much.  With his recent arrest, many people are asking what sort of charges he may face.  Many people believe that celebrities are able to avoid the law and receive a smaller fine than the common citizen.  Is this true?

As we have stated in the past, DUI laws are becoming more and more strict.  In Colorado Springs and abroad, police officers are enforcing drunk driving laws with stronger penalties including significant fines and jail time.  We constantly read in the newspaper that celebrities and famous athletes are being arrested for drunk driving behavior.  The question we all ask is whether they are being punished with strict fines or if they are in some way penalized like you and I.  The truth of the matter is yes, they are.  Whether it is a famous movie star or athlete like Ben Wallace, the penalties are the same.

In the case of Wallace, he was required to appear in court in front of a judge on October 3rd where he was found guilty of drunk driving charges.  Appearing in court in front of a judge is standard practice that anyone who is charged with drunk driving behavior must do at one point or another.  Wallace now faces jail time and a large fine for his behavior.  Jalen Rose, another former NBA player of the Phoenix Suns & Indiana Pacers, was also convicted of driving under the influence.  His judge, Kimberly Small, sentenced him to serve jail time and he received a large fine.  Again, this case just goes to show that celebrities cannot avoid the law when it comes to DUI charges.

As we have covered, anyone arrested for a DUI cannot avoid the penalties associated with such a charge.  However, if you are wrongfully arrested you may challenge the charge in court. Colorado Springs DUI attorneys have indicated that most people simply pay their fines and serve jail time, even if they are not properly convicted.  It is very important for anyone arrested on a DUI charge to have proper legal representation.  For a DUI attorney, Colorado Springs has experienced and knowledgeable professionals who provide help for anyone who believes they were wrongfully charged.

 

Have You Had Multiple DUI Offenses?

September 28 in DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

Colorado Springs police and highway patrol officers in the area are being more and more strict about enforcing laws regarding operating a vehicle while under the influence.  Due to increased accidents and fatalities, police are really cracking down to keep only sober people on the road.  If you have been pulled over or even arrested for driving under the influence, you are fully aware of the consequences.  You generally have to pay fines, go to jail or hire an attorney if you feel you have been wrongfully accused.  This is the typical process for your first DUI offense.  But what if you are a repeat offender?

Many people who are casual drinkers have been pulled over for driving under the influence.  This usually only happens once and they are quick to change their behavior so it does not happen again.  Unfortunately, some people attempt to drive under the influence on a regular basis.  This may work for a short while, but those who try this tactic eventually get caught and are faced with a very difficult situation.  Once it is determined that they are a repeat offender, the officer will not simply ask you to walk the line or take a breathalyzer test.  Instead, it is a guarantee that you will be arrested, your license revoked and your car will be impounded.  In a situation where you have had multiple DUIs, the associated penalties are raised substantially.   In the Colorado Springs, you will be required to serve a minimum of five to ten days in jail for a second DUI.  If you have three DUI offenses on your record, you will usually be looking at a year of jail time.  Additionally, if you have other offenses on your record such as being involved in an accident, the jail time you serve will increase.  If the judge involved with your case determines you are a serious traffic offender or drunk driver, you will end up serving prison time for a Class 6 felony.  Also, if your case is advanced to a Class 6 felony, you will be unable to drive legally for a period of five years.

Sitting with multiple DUI offenses can leave you in a very scary situation.  It is of utmost importance to have the best representation to try to reduce your jail time, license revocation time and any thing else the court files against you.  Colorado Springs DUI lawyers are completely aware of the process and are committed to helping both the offender and the court find a resolution.  If you find yourself in this situation, contact a Colorado Springs DUI attorney as soon as possible.

 

 

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DUI Defenses That Work

May 5 in DUI Advice, DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

Before facing a DUI charge in court, it is important that you know what your defense options are and that you discuss these options thoroughly with the DUI attorney Colorado Springs provides you with. Knowing what sorts of defenses have worked with DUI cases in the past and taking advantage of those defenses can help increase your chances of success during your DUI court proceedings.

It might seem silly, but one defense that’s been used in the past is the “I wasn’t actually driving” defense. In most cases, the prosecution must prove that the defendant was actually in operation of his or her vehicle at the time that law enforcement stopped the vehicle. In the past, defendants have argued their case on technicalities using this defense and actually come out on top. However, it’s generally not the best DUI defense.

A few of the other defenses that your DUI attorney Colorado Springs might advise you to use are defenses that are often used in a number of other types of cases. The first is a lack of probable cause. If the officer who pulled you over did not have probable cause to do so, then the traffic stop and ensuing arrest might be considered unlawful. Along with probable cause, if the officer who arrested you did not properly read off your Miranda rights (the right to remain silent, etc.), your case may be qualified for dismissal.

These are only a few of the most commonly used DUI defenses available to you if you’re ever caught in a DUI trial. Your Colorado Springs DUI attorney should be able to help you decide on the defense that will give you the best chances of coming out of the proceedings with the best results possible.

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Are DUI Checkpoints Legal?

April 26 in Colorado Springs News, DUI Advice, DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

Yes, it turns out that they are.  Moreover, while many folks have been unsettled by the idea that these checkpoints might violate fourth amendment rights, there are a number of reasons why they do not.

Recently there have been a number of questions about whether or not DUI & DWI checkpoints violate our fourth amendment rights.  It is mandated by law that these checkpoints are made public knowledge far a head of time.  Moreover, these checkpoints must have a reason to be located at their position (a large number of accidents, DUI tickets issued, etc.) In short, the law ensures that these checkpoints do not violate the fourth amendment by ensuring that they are justifiable.  On a local level, most Colorado Springs DUI checkpoints are loudly and clearly displayed in advance and are located at busy intersections.  The public is always given advance notice of the checkpoint and, which the spread of smart phones, they can all be found on various DUI and DWI apps.
Colorado Springs DUI attorneys are busy ensuring that the rights of Colorado citizens are not under attack simply because DUI checkpoints are in place.  While DUIs and drunk driving law are founded in good intentions to make our streets safer, it is possible that a DUI checkpoint could violate our fourth amendment rights.
The police need to provide, in advance, justification for the occasion and placement of the checkpoint.  This means that checkpoints are usually set up during times when people are likely to be driving drunk; after sporting games, on major holidays, etc. and need to be set up at places that are statistically proven to be a high risk location for DUI accidents and injuries.
This means that the checkpoints are justifiable because they minimize the number of accidents that might take place on that intersection in a given evening.
Any other questions in DUIs and their fourth amendment justification?  Feel free to contact your Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney for any other questions.

Choosing the Right DUI Attorney

April 26 in DUI Advice, DUI Attorneys by admin | No Comments

Going to trial for a DUI charge is unlike going to trial for any other offense. There is a very negative social stigma surrounding DUI for a very good reason. However, this social stigma creates a bias against DUI defendants, which often makes them look guilty before they even have a chance to defend themselves. This is why the most important part of any DUI proceedings is to first hire the best DUI attorney Colorado Springs has to offer. The following are a few tips we’d like to share on what to look for in a DUI attorney and why we strongly, strongly advise against trying to represent yourself.

As with any type of attorney, a DUI attorney specializes in the ins and outs of DUI law, and therefore will know far more than anyone charged with a DUI offense (unless, perhaps, they’ve gone through the process more than a few times…). A DUI attorney will be able to work out the proper strategy for each specific case that comes to them, some of which might be tricky for anyone unfamiliar with DUI law. For instance, a Colorado Springs DUI attorney should be able to go over the chronology of your arrest and detainment and find any misconduct committed by law enforcement officials.

Not every DUI attorney is as expert at developing defense strategies and finding holes in the prosecution’s case, so research is key to finding the best that Colorado Springs has to offer. Online resources are perhaps the best place to start, with websites like Avvo offering attorney directories and attorney reviews from real current and past clients. If you know anybody who has gone through DUI proceedings, it would also be advisable to talk to them about their experience with their Colorado Springs DUI attorney.

In the end, the best advice we can give is to find a DUI attorney who has been practicing DUI law exclusively for at least a few years. And if you are thinking about defending yourself, you should really consider whether you want to risk your freedom and reputation instead of spending the extra money to ensure that you have the best representation available and the best chance to come out of your DUI proceedings on top.

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