Know the Colorado Drinking Laws
Know the Colorado Drinking Laws
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In Colorado, you may drink alcoholic beverages if you are 21 years of age or older. Alcohol is prohibited on campus except at state licensed or campus events with an alcohol permit, or by residence hall students 21 years of age or older as allowed by residence hall policy.
*A BAC of .15% makes a fatal car crash 380 times more likely*
Minor in Possession of Alcohol:
Persons under the age of 21 convicted of possession and/or consumption of alcohol may have their driver’s licenses revoked.
Your 1st MIP
- The opportunity to have your sentence deferred if you complete FAC or a comparable class.
- (A deferred sentence means the charge will be dismissed without conviction being entered, meaning you can truthfully deny having been convicted of the underlying criminal offense. Will be dropped if FAC or comparable class is completed.)
- First offenses are not reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles, driver’s license will not be revoked if FAC class is completed.
- $0 fine
Your 2nd MIP
- Will also result in the opportunity to defer your sentence
- Must complete 24 hour second offender program plus 24 hours of community service,
- $125-$150 fine.
Your 3rd MIP
- Will be your 1st conviction
- you will have to complete 36 hours of alcohol evaluation and treatment,
- 24 hours of community service,
- possible substance abuse monitoring,
- probation which will result in jail time if broken,
- your drivers license will be suspended
- $255 fine
Subsequent MIP’s will result in increased penalties, including misdemeanor charges.
www.bouldercounty.org/da
Zero Tolerance:
Driving while under the age of 21 with a blood alcohol content of .02 to .08 is a separate traffic offense. Penalties include mandatory loss of your driver's license, up to 24 hours community service, alcohol evaluation, alcohol education classes and fines.
Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI):
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) between .05 and .079 will result in a DWAI.
- 1st offense
- mandatory two day jail sentence that can go up to 180 days
- 24-48 hours of community service
- $200-$500 fine
- Mandatory alcohol evaluation and or therapy.
- Loss of driver's license from 3 months to one year.
- 2nd offense
- 5 days to one year jail sentence,
- community service,
- $600-$1000 fine,
- monitored sobriety with no alcohol for one year,
- Loss of driver's license.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI):
BAC is .08 percent or higher will result in a DUI if you are over 21. If you are under 21 a BAC of .02 will result in a DUI in addition to an MIP.
- 1st offense
- mandatory five day jail sentence that can go up to one year,
- 48-96 hours of community service,
- alcohol evaluation and treatment,
- fine of $600-$1000,
- Loss of driver's license for a minimum of three months.
- 2nd offense or a BAC of .20 or higher
- minimum of 90 day jail sentence that can go up to one year,
- alcohol evaluation and treatment,
- fine of $1000-$1500,
- monitored sobriety with no alcohol for one year
- Loss of driver's license.
*Note DWAI or DUI are not exclusively for alcohol but also includes any other drug.
Personal Responsibility:
You are responsible for knowing and complying with university policies, local, state and federal laws. Students also share in the responsibility of education their peers about policies, laws, and responsible decision-making and behavior.