Driving Under the Influence in Colorado: Court Outcomes & Arrest Trends

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 of Criminal Justice’s dashboards and recent analyses (primarily for the years 2019–2023) to provide insights into case dispositions, toxicology, demographics, and arrest volumes.

Arrest Dynamics: Statewide Trends

– In 2023, law enforcement made approximately 16,427 DUI arrests statewide—a volume consistent with prior years.
– Individuals aged 25–34 constituted the largest share of arrests.

Court Filings and Demographics (circa 2019)

– In 2019, Colorado courts received 26,165 DUI-related criminal filings.
– ~75% male defendants; Average age: 35 years; Median: 32.
– Highest volume among 26–34 age group (~31%).

Case Classification & Final Outcomes

– Over 95% of DUI charges were misdemeanors; 4–4.5% were felonies.
– Most misdemeanor classifications remained final; a small fraction of felonies were downgraded.

Dispositions: Guilty, Deferred & Dismissals

– ~80% guilty verdicts, ~10% dismissals.
– Conviction rates varied by charge; DWAI with prior convictions had ~97% guilty findings.

Toxicology Matching & Substance Findings

– 61% of DUI filings had matched toxicology records.
– ~86% had BAC ≥ 0.08; mean BAC ≈ 0.16.
– Marijuana screening in ~23% of cases, with ~52% positivity.

Polydrug Use: Alcohol & THC

– In 6,071 dual-screened cases, 45% involved polydrug use.
– 68% of polydrug detections were alcohol + THC.

Prior Offenses & Recidivism

– 38% of DUI defendants had prior DUI convictions.
– Repeat offenders had higher BACs but slightly lower THC levels.

Crash Associations

– 26% of convicted individuals were involved in crashes; 5.3% with injury/fatality.
– Higher crash risks for alcohol + THC cases.

Discussion & Professional Implications

This empirical profile underscores the enforcement and adjudicative intensity surrounding DUI matters in Colorado. The data highlights high reliance on toxicology, consistency in demographics, risks of polydrug use, and pandemic-era shifts in deferred dispositions. Practitioners should pay close attention to toxicology timing, recidivism indicators, and substance combinations when building defense strategies.

DUI Sentencing Statistics

In reporting for 2019 (the most recent year with complete sentencing data), sentencing outcomes were available for approximately 20,282 DUI‑related charges. Of those, 92.0% received a guilty disposition—including standard DUI, DWAI, and felony‑level offenses—with consistent conviction rates across most offense types: DUI and DWAI convictions exceeded 92%, while vehicular assault and homicide charges produced guilty findings in more than 92% and 98% of cases respectively. Financial sanctions were widespread: roughly 18,863 charges included a surcharge going to the Victim’s Assistance Fund—amounting to over $3.2 million in collective remittances.

Sentencing conditions commonly included community supervision and incarceration elements. On average, individuals received 616 days of probation, approximately 3 days of community service, and 220 days in incarceration when applicable. These metrics reflect the judiciary’s emphasis on prolonged supervision and meaningful sanctions within Colorado’s DUI sentencing framework, especially for repeat or high-severity offenders.

Sources

Key data synthesized from Colorado Division of Criminal Justice and CDOT reports (court filings, dispositions, toxicology, crash involvement), 2023 DUI arrest reports, and public safety datasets.