Earlier last month, the Colorado State Senate passed a bill that increases the penalties that repeat drunk-driving offenders will face.
The bill, properly referred to as House Bill 17-1288, was originally presented by Republican Senator John Cooke of Greely. If the bill passes, habitual DUI offenders who commit a class 4 felony DUI or who have been charged with four subsequent DUIs must be sentenced by the court to no less than 90 days and up to two years in a correctional facility. Additional community service requirements of up to 120 hours may also be required, along with mandatory enrollment in drug and alcohol safety classes, based on the language included in the bill.
Drunk driving in Colorado has been deemed a serious issue with more than 4,600 DUIs occurring in 2015, according to data collected by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). Despite law enforcement’s attempt to get drunk drivers off the road, the issue persists statewide.
“We have so much education and so many people talking about it, and we just don’t understand why people still drink and drive,” said Trooper Glen Hunter with the CSP.
In Mesa County, however, the drunk-driving rate seems to be decreasing.
The CSP notes that the number of DUIs in Mesa County dropped from 2015 to 2016. Prosecutors have also noticed a decrease in DUI offenses in recent years. “We actually have an 18.5 percent decrease in DUI offenses comparing 2015 to 2016,” said Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein.
The leading cause for concern for Colorado law enforcement officials is habitual DUI offenders who continue to drive drunk.
“You can see a loss of license, money, possible jail time, community service,” Trooper Hunter said. “There are a lot of things that impact you when you get arrested for DUI.”
After analyzing the way jurisdictions were sentencing DUI cases, Rubenstein noticed the lack of penalties habitual offenders faced.
“Sometimes they end up with softer sentences on a first felony DUI then they would on a 4th or 5th misdemeanor DUI,” he said. “That is because some district court judges are used to seeing more serious type felonies like sexual assaults or murders.”
Even though Mesa County has experienced a sharp decrease in DUI offenses, its offenders will still be subject to the same harsher penalties if the House Bill 17-1288 passes.
“What the legislature is trying to do is make sure the judges are realizing the point of a felony DUI. We now have at least three priors, and jail time is really appropriate in all cases,” Rubenstein continued.
The bill to increase penalties for drunk drivers currently sits on Governor Hickenlooper’s desk waiting for final approval.
“It’s simple,” Trooper Hunter explained. “Just don’t drink and drive.”