Should you refuse a breathalyzer in Colorado?

Table of Contents

Should you refuse a breathalyzer in Colorado?

In other words, if you were arrested for intoxicated driving in Colorado, you are required to take a breath test. If you refuse to do so, you will be subject to automatic penalties. Notice the use of the words ‘arrest’ and ‘arrested’ in reference to Colorado’s express consent law.

Is refusing a breathalyzer an admission of guilt in Colorado?

Additionally, should your DUI or DWAI case go to trial, your refusal to take a chemical test will be admissible as evidence of guilt.

Can you refuse a blood alcohol test in Colorado?

Under Colorado law, you have no obligation to agree to a preliminary breath test, and there are no penalties for refusal. The only exception is if you are under the age of 21, in which case you must agree to this test.

What happens if you refuse to take a chemical test in Colorado?

When a driver refuses to take a chemical test, the arresting officer can immediately take the driver’s license and issue a temporary seven-day permit. A driver whose license has been revoked for refusing a chemical test is entitled to contest the revocation at an administrative hearing.

What is the penalty for drivers who passed the required field sobriety tests?

If you pass the field sobriety test or the breathalizer test, then you will only be sanctioned or penalized for the traffic offense for which you were pulled over, and thus not subject to penalties of Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

What happens if you refuse a chemical test in Colorado?

What is the purpose of field sobriety tests?

Field sobriety tests, sometimes called roadside sobriety tests, are used to enforce DUI laws and usually precede Breathalyzer tests. A police officer typically performs a three-part field sobriety test after a traffic stop where there is suspicion that the motorist may be drunk or otherwise impaired.

Is it better to take breathalyzer or blood test?

Blood tests generally produce more accurate results than breathalyzers and other breath tests. Blood tests directly measure the suspect’s actual BAC. Breath tests only indirectly measure someone’s BAC. Blood tests are also less susceptible to environmental factors that can skew the results.

What does a DUI cost in Colorado?

According to the CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) the average cost for a DUI in Colorado is now $13,530 which is an increase of $3,260 (32%) over the $10,270 which was the previous average.

What happens if you refuse a roadside breath test in Colorado?

If you get arrested for DUI or DWAI and refuse to take a chemical blood or breath test, it can lead to serious consequences – including an automatic one-year suspension of your driver’s license and being designated as a persistent drunk driver. 1. What is Colorado’s “express consent” law? 2. How is a “preliminary” roadside breath test different? 3.

Should you refuse a DUI chemical test in Colorado?

The decision of whether to refuse a chemical test has become more difficult since Colorado DUI laws changed in 2014. Before that, refusing a chemical test resulted in an automatic one-year suspension of your license with no possibility of earlier reinstatement.

What happens if you refuse to take a breathalyzer in Colorado?

What happens if you refuse to take a breath test?

If you get arrested for DUI or DWAI and then refuse to take a chemical blood or breath test, it can lead to serious consequences, including an automatic one-year suspension of your driver’s license and being designated as a persistent drunk driver.