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Colorado Felony DUI Bill News: Bill Watered Down Amid Cost Concerns

March 31, 2015

Recent revisions to the Colorado felony DUI bill have focused on reducing the costs of this bill. Here’s how this bill currently sits – and how it still may fall short.

In the midst growing national attention and increasing concerns about its costs, the Colorado felony DUI bill currently making its way through the state legislature has recently been revised. In fact, the new changes have watered down this bill by:

No longer making a third DUI within 7 years a felony (when certain aggravated circumstances are factors).
Only making fourth DUIs (and beyond) felonies, which could be punishable by 2 to 6 years in prison (among other penalties).
Reducing the costs of the Colorado felony DUI bill substantially.

A Closer Look at the Changes to and Costs of the Colorado Felony DUI Bill

Prior to the recent revisions to the Colorado felony DUI bill, the projected costs of it were about $2.4 million within the first year; this price tag, which primarily stems from the costs associated with incarceration, was projected to balloon up to about $17.5 million by 2018.

With the recent changes (eliminating third DUIs as possible felonies), however, the Colorado felony DUI bill is now projected to cost:

About $1.5 million within the first year of enforcement
About $8 million by 2018, cutting the estimated three-year costs associated with the Colorado felony DUI bill by more than half.

In commenting on these recent changes, bill sponsor and State Rep. Beth McCann explained that the revisions do “reduce (the cost) quite a bit — but retains our purpose, which is to discourage drinking and driving and to give our courts and prosecutors more options when dealing with the repeat DUI offender.”

Colorado Felony DUI Bill: What about Treatment for Repeat Offenders?

While the costs of the Colorado felony DUI bill have been a major point of contention (and these fiscal concerns seem to be getting addressed), what remains to be seen is whether concerns regarding addiction issues and/or treatment options will be addressed in future revisions for the Colorado felony DUI bill.

In fact, this opposition to the bill has pointed out that:

Repeat DUI offenders usually are people with alcohol addiction (or other addiction) problems.
Increasing incarceration times for these individuals will not necessarily address underlying addiction issues, meaning that felony charges will likely not be an effective deterrent.

Do think these concerns should also be addressed in the Colorado felony DUI bill? Share your thoughts and opinions with us below and/or on social media.

As more news about the progress of the Colorado felony DUI bill becomes available, we’ll report it to you here in our blog.

Denver and Boulder Metro Area DUI Lawyer at the Griffin Law Firm

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To receive a complete evaluation of your case, along with professional advice regarding your best options, contact us by calling (303) 280-1070 or by emailing us using the contact form at the top of this page.