DUI Statistics for Colorado

Colorado’s adoption of the .08 legal limit, which became effective July 1, 2004, has resulted in a skyrocketing number of arrests for drunk driving while having little or no impact on drunk-driving related traffic fatalities.

Today, more than ever before, hiring an aggressive and experienced Denver DUI attorney is critical to protecting your rights to drive, your freedom, and your livelihood. As authorities continue to aggressively pursue DUI offenders, defendants frequently face questionable arrest. The veteran Colorado drunk driving defense lawyers at Rosenthal & Heymann offer free and confidential consultations to anyone charged with DUI in the Denver area, including Aurora, Boulder, Lakewood and Englewood.

In the five years following passage of tougher DUI laws in Colorado – which lowered the legal driving limit from .10 to .08 in response to a federal mandate which withheld highway funding – the number of DUI arrests has increased by about one-third– from 21,253 in 2004 to 28,198 arrests in 2008. Meanwhile, the number of drunk-driving fatalities increased from 178 to 202.

The number of alcohol-related traffic deaths peaked in Colorado more than 25 years ago. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 422 of the state’s 668 traffic deaths – an astounding 63 percent – involved alcohol in 1982. The following year, deaths declined to 418, while the percentage ticked up to 65.

Since then, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have declined steadily as a percentage of overall fatalities. In 2008, 202 of the state’s 548 deaths were alcohol related, or about 37 percent. Of those, only 173 involved a driver with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit of .08.

Additionally, the average number of annual fatalities attributed to drunk driving has been higher since the lower legal limit than under the prior law, according to statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In reality, a 15-year review of Colorado DUI arrests shows little or no impact on the number of fatal drunk driving accidents. In 1996, almost 30,000 people were arrested for drunk driving and 182 deaths were reported. The following year, there were only about half as many arrests and fatalities declined. The same pattern repeats in 1998 (27,093 arrests/165 fatalities) and 1999 (20,564 arrests/154 fatalities).

In 2000-2001, DUI arrests were virtually identical, while fatalities increased by 30 percent. The same thing happened in 2007-2008, when arrests stayed nearly the same but deaths shot up more than 50 percent.

The average motorist convicted of DUI can expect to spend $7,000 to $10,000, including court costs, fines, and increased insurance premiums. And, with an average of almost 30,000 DUI arrests in each of the last few years, drunk driving is big business for state and local governments.

Hiring an aggressive and experienced Colorado DUI defense lawyer can help protect your freedom, your driving rights, your livelihood and the financial well-being of you and your family. If you are arrested for drunk driving in the Denver area, contact Rosenthal & Heymann for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.

Rosenthal & Heymann – Call 303-825-2223 – Free Consultation