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Has Your Colorado Driver’s License Been Suspended?
Like every other state, Colorado makes it illegal to drive a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. If you are ticketed or charged in this state for driving without a valid license, you will need the legal help that a Denver suspended driver’s license attorney provides.
By law, drivers must have a valid driver’s license with them whenever they operate a motor vehicle in Colorado. If you misplace or forget your license, and you are charged for driving without a valid driver’s license, that charge is usually dropped when you produce your license.
If you have never had a driver’s license, or if you have a driver’s license that has expired, it is unlawful for you to operate a motor vehicle in Colorado. If your Colorado driver’s license has expired, you should renew it before you drive again, or you could face serious legal penalties.
Who May Not Drive in Colorado?
If your driver’s license has been denied, revoked, or suspended by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), it is unlawful for you to drive in this state. When your driver’s license is suspended, your driving privilege is taken from you temporarily and for a specific period of time.
However, when a driver’s license is revoked rather than suspended, that license is not automatically re-issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles. After your driver’s license is revoked in this state, you must apply to have the license reinstated before you may drive again.
Driver’s licenses are denied in Colorado to those who cannot meet the requirements for a license or pass the state’s licensing test. Nevertheless, more than 4.4 million motorists are licensed to drive in this state.
When May a Colorado Driver’s License Be Suspended or Revoked?
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles may revoke or suspend your Colorado driver’s license for a number of reasons that include but are not limited to:
- accumulating too many penalty points on your driving record
- a conviction for a serious traffic crime, such as vehicular homicide
- driving with no automobile insurance
- violating a child support order
- providing a minor with alcohol
A conviction for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI), driving while ability impaired (DWAI), or underage drinking and driving (UDD) may also trigger a Colorado driver’s license suspension.
How Does the Point System Work?
In this state, a conviction for a moving violation puts penalty points on your driving record. The number of points that go on your driving record is determined by the severity of the moving violation. For example:
- Not wearing a seat belt puts two points on your driving record.
- Running a stop sign or stoplight puts four points on your driving record.
- Reckless driving puts eight points on your driving record.
- Driving under the influence puts twelve points on your driving record.
When a Colorado motorist has accumulated too many penalty points, that motorist’s license is suspended:
- For adult motorists who are 21 years old and older, your driver’s license is suspended when you accumulate twelve or more penalty points in a twelve-month period or eighteen or more points in a twenty-four-month period.
- For drivers who are 18, 19, and 20 years old, your license is suspended when you accumulate nine or more points in a twelve-month period, twelve or more points in a twenty-four-month period, or fourteen or more points before your 21st birthday.
- For motorists who are under 18 years old, your driver’s license is suspended when you accumulate six or more penalty points in a twelve-month period or when you accumulate seven or more points before your 18th birthday.
What is DUS?
Driving under suspension (DUS) is the charge in Colorado for driving while your license is suspended. The penalties for a conviction are harsh. You could pay a costly fine, your license suspension could be extended, and in some circumstances, you could be looking at time in jail.
If you are convicted of DUS, it will not matter why your Colorado driver’s license was suspended. A conviction for driving under suspension will negatively affect your family, your job, and your future, and if you do not fight the charge, you will be convicted and sentenced.
However, if you are advised and represented by a Denver suspended driver’s license lawyer, your lawyer will protect your legal rights, contest the DUS charge, and fight to resolve the case in your favor. In the best scenario, you may even avoid a driving under suspension conviction.
How Can You Fight a DUS Charge?
If you are charged with DUS in or near the greater Denver area, and if you fight the charge as you should, your Denver suspended driver’s license attorney will prepare an appropriate defense on your behalf. Depending on the specific details of your DUS case, your attorney may claim:
- You were not notified that your driver’s license was suspended or revoked.
- You actually were not aware that your driver’s license was suspended or revoked.
- Police officers violated your rights when they stopped you in traffic.
- You were compelled to drive for a reason like a natural disaster or a medical emergency.
- Another person was forcing or threatening you to drive against your will.
Why Choose Attorney Daniel M. Murphy?
If you are charged with driving under suspension or with any moving violation in or near the greater Denver area, or if you are seeking to have your revoked Colorado driver’s license reinstated, you will need the advice and services of a Denver suspended driver’s license lawyer.
For more than twenty-five years, Denver criminal defense attorney Daniel M. Murphy has provided his clients with aggressive, sympathetic, and effective legal advice and representation. On a regular basis, he successfully defends clients charged with traffic offenses including DUS.
Award-winning attorney Daniel M. Murphy knows that losing your driving privilege can severely impact your work, your family, and your future, so he fights hard to win the best outcome for every client in every case.
If your driving privilege is at risk, or if you are charged with a moving violation, call the Denver law offices of Daniel M. Murphy at 303-996-8998 – as soon as possible – to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation, and get the help you need. Our legal team is ready to work for you.
