Colorado Springs Criminal Law Blog

The computer database Colorado police use to keep track of concealed gun permits is full of errors and incomplete information, according to a recent article in The Denver Post. A state audit of the database concluded that its contents are so inaccurate that law enforcement officers should not rely on the database’s information.

The audit found several glaring errors and omissions. For instance, 16,000 permits do not appear in the database because the Colorado counties that issued them never reported the permits to the Colorado Crime Information Center.

Of the permits that are included in the database, 2,000 are duplicates, with one entry showing a valid permit and the other showing a revoked permit for the same gun owner. Dozens of records say a permit won’t expire for 40, 50, or even 100 years, even though Colorado gun permits are only good for five years.

Within the gun-permit database, each entry consists of several different computer “pages.” Many entries contain conflicting information, such as saying on the first page that a concealed-gun permit was issued, but saying on a later page the permit was denied. This conflicting information may mislead police, who may not click past the first screen, which may result in police acting on mistaken beliefs, such as arresting someone who has a valid concealed-gun permit, although the police believe the person does not have a permit.

If you have been charged with a weapon or gun violation in Colorado, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who will get to the bottom of the charges being held against you. The experienced Colorado Springs gun crime defense lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. will examine your case thoroughly and fight for the best possible outcome. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call us today at 719-475-2555.

The number of Colorado car accidents involving at least one person who was driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated has been declining steadily during the second half of this decade, according to the Colorado State Police.

From 2004 to 2008, the Colorado State Police have responded to fewer crashes each year involving an intoxicated person. In 2004, the state police responded to nearly 1,200 such accidents. By 2008, however, they were responding to just over 600 crashes, a decrease of nearly fifty percent. According to the state police, in 2008, 59.9 percent of the accidents involving an intoxicated person resulted in no injuries or deaths. That number jumped to 84.6 percent when the intoxicated person was not the one who caused the accident.

The number of crashes that involved an intoxicated person and resulted in injury remains a minute portion of the number of Colorado car accidents that leave someone injured. While car accidents have been declining steadily since 2004, the Colorado State Police still responded to nearly 4,000 crashes in 2008, of which a mere handful involved a drunk driver.

Heavier penalties, regular enforcement, and public transportation options are all credited with helping people who drink to stay off the roads. When an accident involves an injury, police may also suspect the drivers of drinking, even if both are sober. The symptoms of shock, head injuries, and other conditions caused by the accident may also mimic intoxication, which can lead to an improper arrest.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for or charged with drunk driving, you need aggressive representation to sort out the facts and to fight for your rights in court. The skilled Colorado Springs DUI attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. have the legal resources and courtroom experience to fight for the best possible outcome in your Colorado drunk driving case. Call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today at 719-475-2555 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

A Colorado drunk driving conviction comes with heavy consequences, including the loss of your state driver’s license. In order to regain your driving privileges after a drunk driving conviction in Colorado, you may be required to file an SR-22 insurance form with the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles.

The SR-22 form is a guarantee from your insurance company to the state of Colorado that verifies that you have auto insurance coverage that meets state law requirements. The form is not insurance itself, but it can be purchased along with your auto insurance. Your insurer may also be willing to file the form with the Colorado DMV on your behalf for a modest fee.

State law requires you to file an SR-22 and keep your auto insurance up to date after a drunk driving conviction in Colorado. The period of time you must have an SR-22 varies, but it can last up to several years. If you don’t keep your SR-22 up to date, the Colorado DMV may suspend your driver’s license. Driving with a suspended license is a crime in Colorado, and if you are convicted of it, you will face a new set of penalties, including heavy fines and the possibility that your license will be revoked.

A Colorado drunk driving conviction affects many areas of your life, including the requirements you must meet to get auto insurance. Presenting an aggressive defense to a drunk driving charge can help you avoid or reduce these strict penalties. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our Colorado Springs drunk driving defense lawyers have the legal resources and courtroom experience that is needed to fight hard on your behalf. For a free and confidential consultation, please don’t hesitate to call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today at 719-475-2555.

No one ever expects they will be arrested for a DUI in Colorado. They also probably aren’t aware of the consequences the DUI may have on their car insurance if they are convicted. In this two part blog series, we will address how your auto insurance can be affected by a DUI.

Getting convicted of drunk driving in Colorado almost always results in money out of your pocket. You may be required to pay fines, court fees, rehabilitation fees, the costs of car repairs or rehabilitation, and more. You can also expect to pay more for your car insurance.

Colorado drivers are required to carry auto insurance that meets minimum limits of coverage. The rates you pay for this insurance depend on a number of factors, but your safe driving record is heavily weighted in most insurance companies’ decisions about what to charge you for insurance. A Colorado drunk driving conviction may influence your insurer to raise your premiums or to drop your coverage altogether.

If you can’t afford your regular insurance or your insurer refuses to cover you, you may be able to get insurance from either an insurance company that specializes in high-risk drivers or from the state’s high-risk insurance pool. High-risk insurers offer nonstandard insurance for high-risk drivers, which usually comes at a high price. Those who buy state-created high-risk insurance usually do it as a last resort, because this type of insurance is usually far more expensive than what’s available in the private market.

Refer back to our blog later this week for part II to learn more about how a DUI can alter your auto insurance. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our Colorado Springs drunk driving defense lawyers know how important it is for you to understand the laws surrounding DUIs in Colorado. If you have been arrested for a DUI, call us today at 719-475-2555 to learn more about your legal rights and how we can help.

The holidays are a great time to spend time celebrating with friends, family, and coworkers. Unfortunately, over 30,000 Colorado residents are arrested for driving under the influence, or DUI, every year. Many of these drivers are arrested during the holidays, when Colorado increases the number of police officers scouring the streets for drunk drivers.

You can help yourself and your loved ones avoid a DUI charge in Colorado this year by planning ahead. For instance:

• Choose a designated driver before the festivities begin. Your designated driver should be someone who is not drinking alcohol at all that night, not merely the person who is least drunk.
• If you don't have a designated driver you trust, call a cab or use public transportation.
• Host the party yourself so that you do not have to drive. If you host, offer plenty of non-alcoholic drinks as well as snacks and activities that don't require drinking to have fun.

A Colorado DUI charge is the holiday gift no one wants. However, if you do receive a DUI or DWAI charge over the holidays, an aggressive defense is often the only way to win the best possible outcome in your case. The experienced Colorado Springs drunk driving defense lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. have the resources and courtroom experience that is needed to fight hard on your behalf. Call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today at 719-475-2555 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

A conviction for drunk driving in Colorado carries with it a wide range of penalties. In addition to possible jail time and loss of driving privileges, a conviction for a DUI or DWAI means points on your license. If you earn too many points in a certain amount of time, your drivers’ license may be suspended or even revoked.

For each conviction of driving while intoxicated (DWAI), the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles puts eight points on the drivers’ license. Each conviction of driving under the influence or DUI earns 12 license points. Those who are convicted of drinking and driving while under age 21 (sometimes referred to as a “baby DUI”) receive an additional 4 points on their licenses.

DUI license points in Colorado are a serious issue. The Division of Motor Vehicles can suspend the drivers’ license of anyone 21 or older who accumulates 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months. Young adults between ages 18 and 21 have their licenses suspended if they collect 9 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 14 total points between ages 18 and 21. Drivers under age 18 face license suspension if they get 6 points in 12 months or 7 points before turning 18.

Administrative penalties like license points add up to a heavy burden. If you're facing a drunk driving charge in Colorado, you need an aggressive defense to help you win the best possible outcome in your case. The experienced Colorado drunk driving attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. have the legal resources and courtroom experience to fight for you. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today at 719-475-2555.