A man in Colorado Springs has recently been arrested on suspicion of his ninth driving under the influence (DUI) charge after causing a traffic collision. While it might seem absurd for one individual to have accrued so many DUI arrests, it should also be noted that it is believed that he was also driving without a proper license. Still, how can someone have so many arrests and remain on the streets? The answer might lie in Colorado State's DUI laws.
Up until the summer of 2015, DUI offenses in Colorado would continue to be misdemeanors, so long as no other unique circumstances escalated it to a felony. This means that even if this man had been convicted for all eight prior arrests, he might not have needed to spend much time in jail. Governor John Hickenlooper changed all that, however, when he signed a bill in June that turned any fourth DUI into a felony that carried punishments up to six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
(For more information about the ninth DUI offender in Colorado Springs, you can read an article The Gazette published here.)
Civil Punishments for DUI Offenders
The criminal justice system does not pay much attention to the people who have actually been injured or devastated by a DUI offender. Putting them behind bars and making them pay the state is not necessarily justice in their eyes. In order to seek financial compensation to make up for their pain, suffering, recovery costs, and lost wages, they need to take matters to civil court.
At The Law Firm of Ted Bills, we are driven, motivated, and absolutely devoted to helping our clients find peace of mind after they have been wrongfully injured by drunk drivers. Our lead attorney, Mr. Bills, sees no excuse for intoxicated driving, and will not give leniency or pity to those who commit this senseless and dangerous act. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident that was not your fault, contact us immediately so we can get to work on your case right away. Compensation might be just around the corner. You only need to call 719.359.9000.