Updated September 2026. This article replaces a 2014 overview that listed penalties without the case-specific qualifications needed for current use.
A Colorado DUI or DWAI allegation can involve more than one process. The court addresses the charge. Separately, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles may address driving privileges through an administrative process. The two tracks can have different notices, deadlines, evidence, and outcomes. A court date does not necessarily answer a DMV question, and a DMV notice does not resolve the court case.
Why the paperwork matters
The citation, court notice, testing paperwork, and any DMV correspondence identify what has actually been alleged and which agency is acting. Consequences depend on the facts, prior history, charge, and law in effect; a generic penalty chart cannot predict an individual result. The Colorado DMV’s express-consent process chart illustrates how administrative steps and court convictions can intersect. Always use current agency instructions for a particular notice.
Learn more about representation
For a fuller explanation of this office’s DUI and DWAI practice, see the DUI, DWAI, and drug DUI page. Commercial drivers may also want to review the CDL matters page, because licensing and employment concerns may be distinct from a personal-vehicle case.
If you would like to discuss a matter with the office, request an appointment. Consultations are by appointment only. Please provide basic contact and scheduling information, not confidential details, through the website.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the office does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no outcome is guaranteed.
