If you are a Colorado resident facing a DUID charge (Driving Under the Influence of Drugs), you are staring down a severe and complex legal battle. Let’s be crystal clear: in Colorado, a DUID charge carries the same catastrophic penalties as an alcohol-related DUI. This is not a lesser offense. It is a threat to your freedom, your finances, and your future.
You need to shed any illusion that this is a simple matter. It is not. You are up against a system built to convict, and you must treat this charge with the fierce seriousness it demands.
The Dual Battle: Criminal Court vs. the DMV
When you are charged with DUID in Colorado, you are immediately thrown into a two-front war:
- The Criminal Case: This is where your guilt or innocence will be determined. A conviction can result in fines, mandatory education and treatment, probation, a permanent criminal record, and, yes, jail time. For a first-time offense, you could face up to a year in jail, fines up to $1,000, and mandatory community service. Repeat offenses bring mandatory jail time and the very real possibility of a felony charge.
- The Administrative Case (DMV Hearing): This is separate from the criminal case and determines the fate of your driving privileges. You have a critically short window—just seven days from the date of the notice—to request a hearing to contest the automatic revocation of your driver's license. Fail to act, and your license is automatically gone for a minimum of one year.
You must fight both fronts simultaneously. Losing the criminal case means a conviction on your record. Losing the administrative case means you cannot legally drive. You must have an aggressive legal strategy for both.
The Critical Difference: Challenging the DUID Evidence
With alcohol DUIs, law enforcement relies heavily on a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. For DUID, the evidence is often more subjective and, crucially, more open to challenge.
Colorado law sets a "permissible inference" for marijuana-impaired driving at 5 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood. However, unlike alcohol, the presence of drugs in your system does not automatically prove impairment at the time of driving.
This is your battlefield. A seasoned DUID attorney can challenge:
- The Traffic Stop: Did the officer have the reasonable suspicion required to pull you over?
- The Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs): Was the administration of these highly subjective tests compromised by poor lighting, weather, your footwear, or a medical condition?
- The Chemical Test: Were the blood draw procedures and the "chain of custody" of your sample followed precisely? Any deviation can render the evidence inadmissible.
You need a defense team that understands the science of toxicology and the procedural faults that can lead to an unreliable DUID case.
Take the Offensive: A Call to Action
Do not sit back and allow the state to build its case unchallenged. Every moment of delay is a gift to the prosecution. The stakes are too high for hesitation. Your ability to drive, your professional reputation, and your freedom are hanging in the balance.
If you are facing DUID charges, you need an advocate with the experience and aggressive approach to protect your rights. This is where Orr Law Firm comes in. We are one of Denver's top DUI defense law firms, and we are ready to fight on your behalf.
Call us right now at (303) 747-4247 for a decisive consultation. The fight for your future starts now.