Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado In-Depth
It is normal to be frightened and overwhelmed following an arrest. Therefore our lawyers are devoted to demystifying major topics in Colorado criminal defense law.
24/7 Help:
(303) 222-0330
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
Call Us NowPosted on
If you were convicted of a first-time DUI in Colorado with a BAC of less than 0.15%, the DMV may lift your nine-month IID requirement after only 120 days (five months early) as long as you were fully compliant.
Early IID removal is not an option if:
In either of these cases, you must drive with the IID for a full two years.
As a Colorado DUI defendant, you may be eligible for early removal of your ignition interlock device (IID) if you meet the following criteria:
You cannot get your IID removed early if you are a repeat DUI offender or a persistent drunk driver (PDD) – which includes having had your license revoked for driving with a BAC ≥ 0.15%. You need to drive with an IID for at least two years.1
A first-time misdemeanor DUI in Colorado carries a nine-month driver’s license suspension, though you can resume driving immediately with an IID and IID-restricted license.
If you then drive for four months (120 days) in full IID compliance, you can apply for early IID removal. Full IID compliance means:
Note that the four-month time frame begins the day your IID-restricted license is granted. This date (called the “issued date”) may be several days after your IID is actually installed.2
The soonest you can ask for early IID removal is on day 121 after you got your IID-restricted license.
So once you drive with the IID without incident for 4 months/120 days, it is recommended that you call the DMV Interlock Department at 303-205-5613 to double-check with an agent that enough time has gone by to apply for early IID removal. Alternatively, order a copy of your motor vehicle record, which should have the date on which you got your IID-restricted license.
Once you know for sure the full 120 days have elapsed, then call the company that installed your IID and ask them to download your IID reports. You need to request that the IID company fax or email the Colorado DMV a “letter of compliance” (a.k.a. “4PASS letter”) right away.3
Once the DMV receives the compliance letter from the IID company, they should mail you a removal letter. In practice, the DMV mails out these letters at the end of the week, but there can be a longer lag time of several weeks. You can call the DMV Interlock Department at 303-205-5613 to check on the status of the letter.4
Once you have the DMV’s removal letter in your possession, you can go to the DMV to apply for a full reinstatement of your driving privileges. You should bring the original removal letter with you when you show up at the DMV branch.
After the DMV reinstates your full driving privileges, only then can you get the IID removed. However, you may not remove the device yourself. You must go to the company that originally installed it.
You may be able to cancel your SR22 insurance if it was your first offense, you were not under 21 at the time, and there was no accident. Otherwise, it is mandatory that you have SR22 for at least 3 years. Contact your attorney to check whether you need to keep SR22 insurance in your particular case.5
For more information about IIDs in Colorado, refer to the following:
Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.