Could penalties from a Colorado DUI follow you to your home state?

If you visit Colorado—whether you pass through on your way to another state or you travel to the state for a getaway—you will probably spend some time enjoying the scenery on Colorado’s roadways. However, if the authorities charge you with driving under the influence (DUI) while you are in the state, the impact of those charges will not stay within Colorado’s borders. What do out-of-state drivers need to know about DUI charges in Colorado?

Why do Colorado charges impact your driving record in your home state?

While each state has its own laws about driving under the influence, 45 states in the United States as well as the District of Columbia have adopted the Interstate Driver’s License Compact (IDLC) agreement. Colorado is part of this agreement.

Because Colorado is part of the Interstate Driver’s License Compact agreement, Colorado courts will share information about your conviction with your home state. This means that license suspensions, past convictions on your driving record, fines and other penalties will impact your life and your driving record long after you return home from Colorado.

Because of another compact—the Nonresident Violator Compact—Colorado will also notify your home state if you do not pay court-ordered fines.

Protecting your driving privileges can be key.

Because DUI charges can have a long-lasting impact on your driving record, out-of-state drivers must take steps to defend themselves against these charges. Your rights and your freedom depend on complying with the Colorado court process, and working with an experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney can be an important step in ensuring that one mistake made in Colorado does not impact your life when you return home.