Prevent Drunk Driving in Colorado
The Law Offices of Daniel J. Caplis strive to prevent drunk driving. That's why we have sponsored local MADD programs, give guest lectures at schools, speak out against drunk driving in the media, and represent the victims of drunk drivers across the State of Colorado. Here are a few concrete ways you can contribute to the effort to help stop drunk driving.
Use a Designated Driver
A “DD” is someone who refrains from drinking alcohol and is responsible for driving you home. Tips for using designated driver:
- Plan ahead. If you know you’re going to drink, you need to know who will drive you home.
Avoid the temptation. At the beginning of the night, hand over your keys to the Designated Driver.- Carry enough cash for a cab ride in case you separate from your Designated Driver.
- Bigger groups should have more than one Designated Driver.
- Take turns being the Designated Driver. This time: you drink, he drives. Next time: you drive, they drink.
Drink Safely and in Moderation
At The Law Offices of Dan Caplis, we know that it’s possible for individuals to drink alcohol responsibly. To help you drink safely and responsibly, here are some ideas for you to consider:
- Eat food while you drink. Food in the stomach helps slow the absorption rate of alcohol into your body.
- Sip your drink. Simply, if you sip instead of gulp, you consume less alcohol.
- Skip a drink. Have a water between alcoholic beverages. A general guideline is to consume one drink per hour.
- Beware of unfamiliar drinks. Mixed drinks like “jungle juice” have deceiving amounts of alcohol in them.
- When taking medication, consume alcohol cautiously. Speak with your doctor when you consume alcohol and medication at the same time.
- Know your limit. The chart below shows the estimated percent of alcohol in your blood by number of drinks in relation to your body weight. This percent can be estimated by:
- Counting your drinks. 1 drink equals 1 ounce of 100-proof liquor, one five ounce glass of table wine or one 12-ounce bottle of regular beer.
- Using the chart below to cross-reference the “Number Of Drinks" against your "Weight" to find your baseline BAC.
- Subtracting from this number the percent of alcohol "processed" during the time elapsed since your first drink. This figure is .015% per hour.
For example, a 180 pound man that consumes 8 drinks in 4 hours has BAC of .107.
.167 — (.015 x 4 hours) = .107
This data was compiled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This chart is not meant to serve as legal advice, but should tell you that even though you think “I’m okay, I can drive,” you are either wrong or very close to being wrong if you have been drinking alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel.
Taking Keys from a Potential Drunk Driver
There are times when someone you love will want to get behind the wheel after having one too many. Whether that person knows he is drunk or not, you know it would risk his life and the lives of others on the road if he drove. Here are some tips on how to get keys from a drunk person about to drive:
- Be pleasant. Suggest in private that he’s had too much to drink and it would be better if he didn’t drive.
- Do not ride as a passenger with him. Tell him that you will ride with someone else, call a cab, or walk.
- If it's someone you don't know well, speak to his friends and ask them to convince him not to drive.
- When he’s not paying attention, take his keys. He will think he lost them and use alternate transportation. Return the keys if he sobers up.
- If you’re a designated driver that day, offer him a ride.
- If the individual insists on driving, tell him that you have no choice but to call the police.
Help the Police Stop Drunk Driving
Colorado law enforcement can use your help. If you observe a driver who appears to be driving drunk, call 911 or *CSP (*277). Signs of impairment include:
- Taking wide turns
- Crossing over or straddling the center lane marker
Slow response to traffic signals- Driving with headlights off at night
- Acting drunk (i.e. -posture, gestures, demeanor)
- Weaving, Swerving, Drifting
- Driving more than 10 mph below limit
- Signaling inconsistently with driving actions
- Stopping inappropriately in traffic
Be ready to provide the dispatcher with the driver’s location, direction of travel, and a description of the vehicle. If possible, also have ready a description of the driver and the license plate number.
MADD and Strides for Change
The staffs at MADD and The Law Offices of Dan Caplis, PC are committed to the victims of drunk drivers. MADD is a non-profit grass roots organization with around 600 chapters nationwide. MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. That is why The Law Offices of Dan Caplis, PC has taken such pride in supporting MADD and sponsored MADD’s Stride for Change Walk. Visit the MADD website by clicking the Strides for Change logo.
Support Legislation to get tougher on DUI's
The Denver Post has recently done a great job of detailing the loopholes in our drunk driving laws, and how repeat offenders are often let out on the road to kill again. Click here to be linked to the article.
State Rep. Clair Levy is sponsoring one mandatory sentencing bill. In addition, Corey Gardener is sponsoring legislation that would make repeat drunk driving offenses a felony. Please consider contacting your State Legislators and the Governor to express your support for these and other measures to toughen the penalties on repeat drunk drivers.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is not intended to be legal advice and should not be construed as such. This website provides general information related to legal issues. Please contact The Law Offices of Dan Caplis, PC to review your specific case.