New Colorado DUI Laws for 2014

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In 1998, the Persistent Drunk Driver Act was passed. This legislation increased the penalties for people with repeat DUI convictions or very high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). Recent changes, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2014, lower the BAC at which a driver is classified as a persistent drunk driver from 0.17 to 0.15 percent.

Another change to the law effects anyone who refuses to take a breath, or blood, test when arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Refusal to take the tests will now enable that person to be classified as a persistent drunk driver.

Penalties Are Not to Be Taken Lightly

Penalties can be severe, even if it’s a person’s first DUI conviction. If you’re classified as a persistent drunk driver you have to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and you need to install ignition interlock devices on your vehicles for two years in order to regain driving privileges. Not to mention, that people classified as “persistent drunk drivers” by the court must wait 30 days (60 days on a refusal) before getting a probationary driver’s license with the ignition interlock use. You should apply early as it takes sometimes weeks to get authorization.
There are also penalties that people convicted of DUI face in addition to the DMV. There are criminal ones; these include fines, jail time, public service, court costs, and penalty surcharges.

Get Professional Help

If you can’t afford your own attorney, contact Boulder Legal Service (BLS) at 1790 30th Street, #301, Boulder, CO. 80301-1020, Phone: 303-449-7575. BLS can also help with bankruptcy, consumer, child custody, dissolution of marriage, domestic violence, elder law, health, housing, individual rights, public benefits, and wills. If you want experienced and aggressive DUI lawyer in Boulder for your legal representation call Paul Stuber (303) 442-6448, or schedule a free consultation in person.

Avoid a Bad Lawyer

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The quality of your legal team can affect the outcome of your case. Boulder’s attorney, Paul Stuber, has 31 years of experience, and he wants to remind you all lawyers are not the same. They have different skillsets, experiences, and personalities. There is a lot of information about how to pick an attorney. In the text below, Paul, a Boulder DUI lawyer tells you how to avoid a bad one.

Learn their work habits.

Unreturned phone calls and email: A lack of communication can indicate that the attorney is too busy, unsure of what to do next, or simply not giving you the attention that you deserve.

Unanswered emails fall into the same category.

Missed deadlines: Missing deadlines and court filing deadlines can damage your case. Find another lawyer immediately if your attorney misses even one deadline.

Poor attitude: Your lawyer is not superior to you. If s/he is rude, condescending, impatient, or non-communicative it can create unnecessary conflict and tension.
Organization: Disorganization is not a great sign.

Promises, Promises: Attorneys should not promise a specific outcome under any circumstances. Treat such promises as a red flag, and look for other warning signs.

Pay attention to their work area.

It’s not likely that a struggling attorney will have a penthouse suite, and it’s not necessarily a sign that the attorney is not successful if they have a modest office. Here are a few signs that the practice may not be doing so well:

Office space in disrepair: this may mean that there have been some lean financial times recently.
Empty offices: if your attorney works for a larger practice and there are lots of empty offices this may mean that the firm has had a lot of turn-over, very rapid growth, or financial issues.

Messy office: While successful attorneys do have offices that can look a little unorganized, it’s important to note that office clutter can be a sign of inefficiency.

Unopened mail: Stacks of unopened mail may signify an unresponsive attorney, or an attorney without the support needed to handle cases effectively.

Notice the staff at the practice.

If the attorney has staff working with him/her, how s/he interacts with the staff members can provide clues to the attorney’s effectiveness, competence and ethics.

A look at the Louisville DUI lawyer’s staff members and how he interacts with personnel can provide clues to his effectiveness, competence, reliability and ethics. The three worst signs are:
• Unhappy staff
• High turn-over
• Lack of staff

If you’re unsure if your attorney is providing you with good representation, don’t hesitate to make a change. Trust your instincts. If you have any questions, contact Boulder attorney, Paul Stuber for a free phone consultation (303) 442-6448, or to schedule an appointment.