Facing a DUI charge in Adams County, Colorado? Here’s what to expect in the court case from the initial arrest to a trial—and how to protect your rights throughout the court proceedings with an Adams County DUI lawyer.
DUI charges in the Adams County Justice Center
DUI Arrests in Adams County
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Adams County, Colorado, your case will be heard at the Adams County Justice Center located at:
1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601This includes DUI arrests from Arvada, Aurora, Bennett, Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Henderson, Lochbuie, Northglenn, Strasburg, Thornton, Westminster, and all Unincorporated areas of Adams County. These cases fall under Colorado’s 17th Judicial District.
Most DUI allegations are misdemeanor charges, unless serious injury or death occurred, or the driver has three prior DUI or DWAI convictions. What a driver is arrested for DUI in Adams County, they are either booked in the Adams County Detention Facility or released to a sober party or to a detox facility with a summons (citation) requiring a future court appearance. If your loved one of friend was arrested for DUI in Adams County, you may find their information on the Inmate Search – Adams County Sheriff Office if they were booked into the jail and are awaiting release.
Once released, the driver may also have to request a hearing with the Colorado Department of Revenue regarding their driver’s license. if the driver refused a chemical test or failed a breath test, this must be done within 7-days to avoid an automatic loss of their driver’s license. If the person consented to a blood test, they would still likely keep their license and may have to request a DMV hearing at a later date depending on the results.
Step-by-Step DUI Court Process in Adams County
1. Advisement Hearing (First Appearance)
Misdemeanor DUI cases begin in Courtroom FAC (First Appearance Center) at the courthouse. This hearing informs you of your legal rights, your eligibility for a public defender, and your next court date. For felony DUI cases (4th or more offense), your case will be assigned to District Court where a bond (typically $10,000) and pretrial conditions like monitored sobriety are imposed.
the first court hearing is a general advisement. The accused driver is not entering any pleas or required to make any decisions. Usually, if a lawyer is retained before the first court hearing, that hearing will be vacated (cancelled) and a future hearing scheduled on the attorney’s docket calendar. This varies depending on the severity of the charges and the courtroom.
2. Pretrial Conference
Usually scheduled about 30 days after advisement, this hearing allows for potential resolution via plea negotiations. The pretrial conference is an opportunity to appear in front of a judge to let the judge know that the case status is. Sometimes cases are resolved at this hearing, and sometimes cases are set for trial with a not guilty plea. It is common to have more than one pretrial conference in a DUI case before a resolution if reached or a trial is scheduled. If not resolved, the case proceeds forward with additional court dates.
3. Pretrial Motions and Case Management
Your DUI attorney may file motions to suppress evidence or challenge probable cause. These motions can significantly impact the strength of the prosecution’s case. For example, if the police stopped the driver for no good cause and based on the attorney’s motion and legal arguments the judge found there was no reasonable suspicion for the stop, all of the evidence would be suppressed. If all of the evidence in a case is suppressed, the DA would not be able to prove the case, and it would be dismissed.
Case management conferences are also status hearings like pretrial conferences. They are opportunities for the People and defendant to reach a resolution before the case proceeds to trial or bring up any issues that the judge may need to rule on before a trial proceeds. A common case management hearing is a trial status conference that occurs about a week before a trial begins. This trial status conference is for the judge to determine what cases have priority on the trial calendar and to weed out any last-minute issues to control the court’s trial calendar. For example, a judge wants to determine if the parties are ready and there are no witness availability issues before bringing a potential jury into court the morning of a trial.
4. Trial or Resolution
If no plea deal is reached, the court will set a jury trial. From arrest to trial, DUI cases in Adams County often take 4 to 12 months, depending on evidence (e.g., blood test delays).
Virtual DUI Court Options
Adams County offers virtual hearings via Webex for certain proceedings. Confirm with your attorney or the court whether your appearance can be remote. All Adams County Virtual Courtroom addresses can be found online. In addition, all of the courtrooms are livestreamed so interested parties can view the proceedings without being physically present in the courtroom. For example, a parent that lives out of state can observe the livestreamed proceedings of their adult child’s hearing.
Felony DUI Cases
Colorado law makes a fourth DUI offense a Class 4 felony. These cases go to District Court and include preliminary hearings to determine probable cause. Judges may impose strict bond conditions, including monitored sobriety and travel restrictions. A felony DUI conviction carries a presumptive prison sentence between 2-6 years, but prison is not mandatory. The judge could decide that other options like a community corrections sentence or probation sentence is warranted. Even if a defendant is sentenced to probation for a felony DUI, there is mandatory county jailtime that is a condition of probation.
DMV License Revocation Hearings
In addition to your criminal case, the Colorado Department of Revenue will initiate a driver’s license revocation process. This is a separate civil proceeding and must be requested within 7 days of arrest if you took a breath test or refused testing. Visit our DMV Hearings page for details.
Judge Assignments and Courtrooms
Cases are assigned randomly to judges in County or District Court by the Clerk’s office. There’s no way to choose your judge. You can view a list of current Adams County judges online. IN Adams County, there are approximately 6-7 judges that handle misdemeanor DUI charges.
Why Hire a DUI Defense Attorney in Adams County?
- Protect your driving privileges and meet all legal deadlines
- Navigate both the criminal and DMV proceedings
- Challenge the legality of the stop, arrest, and testing process
- Negotiate for reduced charges or dismissal when appropriate
- Prepare an aggressive trial defense when necessary
Contact an Adams County DUI Lawyer Today
The sooner you consult with a DUI defense lawyer in Adams County, the better your chances of preserving your rights and license. Our experienced legal team at Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. has helped hundreds of clients facing DUI charges in Adams County. Lead attorney Jay Tiftickjian is a former Adams County Deputy District Attorney hand has over 20 years of experience in the Adams County Justice Center.