Colorado Ignition Interlock & State DUI Laws

Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Procedures

Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Colorado is one of 42 states that has implemented ALR, meaning that your license will be confiscated immediately if your BAC is above .08 OR if you refuse a BAC test. Your license will either be suspended or revoked at that point, even though you have not been officially convicted in a criminal trial.

You will be given a 7-day grace period during which you can drive under a temporary driving permit issued by the officer at the scene. During that time, you can request a hearing by an administrative law judge to challenge this case. If you do not request a hearing, your license will be automatically suspended on the 8th for 90 days. After the suspension period, you will be required to get an ignition interlock device.

Remember that this is a separate case from the judicial one, with separate authorities and rulings. This can be very influential upon the judicial procedures, but you must act quickly if you wish to challenge this.

Judicial Procedures

In Colorado, there are two levels of drunk driving laws:

• Driving While Under the Influence (DUI) law prohibits a person from driving when they have a BAC of .08% or higher. Courts are required to order the installation and monitoring of an interlock device for any driver whose BAC levels are .08% or higher, even for a first offense. The devices are required for a minimum of six months, with extensions if the driver has a high BAC at the time of arrest or if injury or property damages are involved.

• Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) law makes it illegal to drive with a lower BAC than most states. The DWAI law starts at 0.05 percent (BAC). DWAI fines and jail times are similar, however, an ignition interlock device is not required unless it is coupled with a previous or subsequent DUI offense.

For more in-depth advice on Colorado ignition interlock laws, check out our partner LifeSafer.