State lawmakers in Colorado recently proposed a bill that would have made repeat DUI offenses a felony, similar to our laws here in Washington State. However, for now, it appears the Colorado state legislature has rejected the proposal.
Under the proposed law, anyone who would have been arrested for three drunk driving offenses in five years would have been charged with a felony. In addition, anyone changed with four DUIs in a 15-year span would have been charged with an even greater felony charge and would have faced multiple years in prison. The bill was set to take effect next year, and many lawmakers cited as a reason for denial that they should consider the proposed law and its fiscal impacts on the state the following year.
Comparatively, Washington Repeat DUI Offenders currently, under certain circumstances, do face a felony charge for their actions. Under Washington state law, if a person has four or more DUI convictions within a ten year period they can be charged with a felony, and they face considerable prison (not jail) time. Some law makers in Washington State are pandering for even stricter DUI laws; they have suggested harsher penalties for repeat offenders. For example, they are promoting the imposition of a felony charge for three prior DUI convictions, or giving prosecutors the ability to consider a longer period of time for a DUI conviction. Such a change would be in line with Colorado’s recently proposed bill.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a DUI, immediately contact a Seattle DUI attorney. A DUI lawyer is not going to judge you, and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle DUI lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce those penalties, and can help direct people on how to best deal with their DUI charge. So it should go without saying that someone cited for DUI should hire a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Driving Under the Influence charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with DUI in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle DUI lawyer.