Available 24/7

What is the Difference Between DUI and DWAI in Colorado?

What is the Difference Between DUI and DWAI in Colorado?

A lot of time and money goes towards a driving under the influence case. If you don’t want a ticket for speeding, drive the posted limit. If you don’t want a ticket for distracted driving, then put away that cell phone. Almost 100 percent of motorist collisions and road offenses are preventable. This is equally true for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI).

What is the difference between DUI and DWAI in Colorado?

The range of Blood Alcohol Levels, as determined by a breath or blood test which is administered less than two hours following the roadside stop. Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI)  is considered to be a lesser offense. If a person blood alcohol content is between 0.05 and 0.08, they are more likely to be charged with DWAI. If convicted, the maximum sentence for DWAI is the same as for a DUI conviction – one year in jail. The DMV will not revoke a driver’s license for a DWAI conviction alone. Not to mention all of the following: The time you must take off work to defend yourself; The costs involved with lawyers’ fees; Loss of income; and Having a driver’s license reinstated. If none of this sounds appealing, there are ways to prevent it. Plan ahead, get a designated driver, call a cab, or spend the night at a friend’s house.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

A driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is more likely to receive a DUI charge. A court conviction will result in the license being revoked for a period of nine months for a first offense. The sentence for a DUI conviction is potentially one year in jail. A skilled DUI defense lawyer can help. Maybe there was something done improperly during the roadside stop, or maybe the equipment wasn’t calibrated properly. It is the job of the defense lawyer to figure out the best way to defend your case.

What is the difference between DUI and DWAI in Colorado if you are defending yourself against a charge? If you are in the position of having to defend against a DWAI or DUI, then you should contact a skilled DUI lawyer. Musell Law is committed to aggressively defending clients against all types of DUI charges. Our advice is to stay calm, get the facts, do your research, and follow the advice of your attorney and their team. Your future is on the line. Even if you are acquitted, the experience will still affect many levels of your life. You may find that your relationships at work, with family, and with friends are also impaired. In some cases, you may lose your job. In a worst-case scenario, perhaps someone was seriously hurt or maybe even killed. The best way to get around an impaired charge is never to be in the situation at all.

Subscribe to receive Colorado criminal law updates.

We will send you updates on Colorado criminal law after each legislative session. 

more articles

Aurora Criminal Mischief Attorney

Aurora Criminal Mischief Lawyer

Criminal Mischief charges in Aurora, Colorado often result from someone damaging another’s personal property. Sometimes referred to as vandalism, criminal mischief carries a wide range of potential consequences based on the extent of the damage. Late last month, a Colorado man was arrested after allegedly attacking drivers with a tire iron at a busy intersection.

Read More »
Stalking Lawyer in Aurora, CO

Aurora Stalking Lawyer

Stalking in Aurora, Colorado involves credible threats and repeated behavior that leads to fear or distress in another person. This offense goes far beyond simply troubling someone. The uncomfortable pattern of contact from an unwanted individual is the difference maker when it comes to Stalking. Often this crime results from messy breakups where a former

Read More »
What's Considered Unlawful Search and Seizure?

What’s Considered Unlawful Search and Seizure in Colorado?

As American citizens, we are protected under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Fourth Amendment protects against unlawful intrusion throughout Colorado from the government into our personal privacy. The Fourth Amendment applies to police arrests and searches. As a result, whenever law enforcement engages in a search and seizure, they must do

Read More »
Scroll to Top