How much is the court fine for a Colorado DUI?

Posted on February 18, 2021

gavel, cash, car keyes, police car toy, and tumbler of beer — A first-time Colorado DUI carries $600 to $1,000 in criminal fines.

Colorado DUI criminal fines are: $600 to $1,000 for a first offense. $600 to $1,500 for a second or third offense. And $2,000 to $500,000 for a subsequent offense.¹ In addition, defendants may be ordered to pay several other court fees and surcharges, such as for DUI School and probation supervision. In total, one DUI case could cost defendants several thousands of dollars by the time it is done.

What are the criminal fines for Colorado DUIs?

It depends on the specific offense and whether the defendant has any prior drunk/drugged driving-related convictions:

Drunk driving offense	Colorado criminal fines
DUI / DUI per se	First offense: $600 – $1,000 Second or Third offense: $600 – $1,500 Subsequent offense: $2,000 – $500,000
DWAI (driving while ability impaired)	First offense: $200 – $500 Second or Third offense: $600 – $1,500 Subsequent offense: $2,000 – $500,000
UDD (underage drinking and driving)	First offense: $150 Subsequent offense: $150 – $300²
Vehicular Assault (DUI causing injury)	$2,000 – $500,000³
Vehicular Homicide (DUI causing death)	$3,000 – $750,000⁴

What is the cost of DUI School?

Defendants required to complete DUI school have to pay for it themselves. The prices depend on the provider giving the classes and the specific course. The estimated costs are as follows:

Level I Education: $200
Level II Education: $360
Level II Therapy, Track A: $630
Level II Therapy, Track B: $780
Level II Therapy, Track C: $1,020
Level II Therapy, Track D: $1,290

DUI School providers may also charge an intake fee and require participants buy their own class materials.

What is the cost of getting a driver’s license reinstated?

The Colorado DMV driver’s license reinstatement fee is $95. But there are several other incidental and administrative costs of losing one’s license after a DUI:

Towing fees: About $150
Car storage and impound fees: Up to $100 per day
Drivers test: $21
Restricted license fee: $26
Drivers’ license reinstatement fee: $95⁵
Ignition interlock device installation and maintenance costs: Can be $2,000 per year
Increase in insurance rate: Hundreds of dollars per year
SR22 insurance: About $250 a month

DUI arrests trigger many non-court-related expenses, such as towing costs.

What other costs are there in DUI cases?

Depending on the case, Colorado DUI defendants may be required to pay the following costs, fees, and surcharges:

Chemical testing (breath– or blood testing): About $150
Detoxification: About $500
Jail and bail fees: About $200
Alcohol and drug evaluation: $200
Probation supervision fee: $50 per month
Community service / Useful public service (UPS) fee: Up to $120
Persistent drunk driver (PPD) surcharge: $100 to $500
Law Enforcement Assistance Fund (LEAF): $90
Deferred judgment/sentencing fee: $26 ($21 plus $5 surcharge)
Docket fees in county court: $26 ($21 plus $5 surcharge)
Docket fees in district court: $40 ($35 plus $5 surcharge)
Outstanding judgment or warrant cost: $30
Time payment fee: $25
Late payment fee: $10
Victim’s compensation costs in county court: $33
Victim’s compensation costs in district court: Up to $163
Victim’s assistance surcharge: Varies
Restitution: Varies⁶

Finally, there are all the other incidental costs of having a DUI/DWAI case. These could include:

Loss of wages from getting fired
Loss of wages from having to miss work for court
Loss of wages while being in jail or prison
Loss of wages from prospective employers who disqualify the defendant for having a DUI
Loss of scholarship money from being disqualified for the DUI
Disqualification from getting a professional license and the increased salary it would have brought
Public transportation and taxi costs while the defendant’s license is suspended

How do I reduce my DUI court fines?

The best chance for lessening or eliminating DUI court costs is to get the criminal charge reduced or dismissed. A criminal defense attorney will do a thorough investigation of the evidence in attempt to find all the “weak links” in the state’s case. It may be possible to raise a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt, especially if the police may have committed misconduct. And in practice, prosecutors are much more likely to extend a favorable plea offer to defendants who are represented by private counsel.

See our related article, How much does it cost to hire a DUI attorney?

Legal References

CRS 42-4-1301; see, e.g., People v. Buskirk, 962 P.2d 975 (1998).
Same; see, e.g. Martinez v. People, (2020) CO 3, 455 P.3d 752.
CRS 18-3-205.
CRS 18-3-106.
Process to Reinstate Driving Privileges, Colorado Department of Revenue.
Filing fees, surcharges, and costs in Colorado State Court, Colorado Judicial Branch.

About the Author

Michael Becker

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.