As Colorado grapples with new laws decriminalizing certain natural psychedelics, including psilocybin mushrooms, it is critically important to understand that legalization or decriminalization does not equate to permission to drive under their influence. Driving while impaired by psilocybin carries significant risks to safety, health, freedom, and driving privileges. influenced driving, Psilocybin: Effects, Impairment, and Risks […]
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The Colorado Court of Appeals’ decision in People v. Thomas, No. 22CA0901 (Colo. App. Aug. 14, 2025), represents a significant development in DUI law. The case involved a defendant with a long history of alcohol-related driving offenses, including a prior vehicular homicide and several convictions for DUI, DWAI, and vehicular assault. On appeal, Noah Ray […]
Recognition in the legal profession requires more than strong advocacy. It demands excellence, integrity, and the respect of one’s peers. In 2016, Jay Tiftickjian received one of the most distinguished honors available to an attorney: he was named “Lawyer of the Year” in DUI/DWI Defense in Denver by Best Lawyers in America. This recognition confirmed […]
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in Colorado are subject to regulations to ensure professional competence, integrity and trust. The Colorado State Board of Accountancy governs licensure and enforces the Colorado Public Accountancy Act. C.R.S. § 12-100-101 et seq. An accountant’s conduct, both in their professional practice and their personal life, can trigger a disciplinary action when […]
As driving under the influence is always a top priority in Colorado, the state’s statutes mandate that every year, a study on drugged driving and impaired driving is compiled. This report provides a comprehensive, statistical examination of impaired driving in Colorado, focusing on DUI court findings and statewide arrest. This article examines the Colorado Division […]
People v. Campos, No. 22CA1978 (Colo. App. 2025), decided by the Colorado Court of Appeals on February 20, 2025, presents a significant appellate review of evidentiary sufficiency regarding proving prior convictions in a felony driving under the influence case. The opinion, authored by Judge Lum and joined by Judges Fox and Gomez, addresses the adequacy […]
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) remains a persistent public safety issue across the United States. In Colorado, where impaired driving laws are stringent, courts have increasingly turned to rehabilitative justice models. Among the most significant innovations in this area is the Denver Sobriety Court. This specialized court represents a broader shift toward problem-solving courts in […]
A new trend in Colorado DUI cases is police applying for and obtaining a warrant for a blood draw when a driver refuses testing. Previously, police obtained warrants in vehicular assault and vehicular homicide cases where a death or serious bodily injury occurred in a DUI accident. Based on the Colorado Supreme Court’s holding in […]
The progress of self-driving or semi-autonomous vehicles has advanced faster than the Colorado Revised Statutes related to driving under the influence. As a defense attorney, I am frequently asked whether a person can get a DUI in a self-driving car. As of this publication, fully self-driving (Level 5) cars are not widely available to consumers, […]
One of the biggest concerns my clients have with a third DUI charge in Colorado is the mandatory jail time. This is a hard conversation as a defense attorney, as the answers provided are never what a client or potential client wants to hear. A third DUI or DWAI conviction in Colorado results in mandatory […]
This year has a higher percentage of crashes caused by DUI drivers than in 2023. The Colorado Task Force on Drunk and Impaired Driving reports 24.5% of all CSP fatal crashes in 2023 were caused by impaired drivers. 2024 saw an increase to 29.2% caused by impaired drivers. The percentage of impaired fatal crashes increased […]
Recently, 9News featured a story about residents residing in commuter vans in Eagle County to offset the high cost of living. The story notes that some residents who live and work in Colorado’s mountain ski communities live in their automobiles, such as those available at Dave & Matt Vans (dmvans.com). But what happens when a […]