“Driving After Revocation Prohibited” (DARP) in Colorado – CRS 42-2-206

CRS 42-2-206 defines the Colorado crime of driving after revocation prohibited (DARP), which is when habitual traffic offenders (HTOs) drive while their license is revoked. Driving after revocation prohibited is a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado, with penalties of 30 days to 18 months in jail and/or $3,000 to $5,000 in fines. But defendants may be allowed to perform community service in place of incarceration.

CRS 42-2-206 states:

It is unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle in this state while the revocation of the department prohibiting the operation remains in effect. Any person found to be an habitual offender, who operates a motor vehicle in this state while the revocation of the department prohibiting such operation is in effect, commits a class 1 misdemeanor.

In this article, our Denver Colorado criminal defense attorneys discuss:

• 1. What is “driving after revocation prohibited” (DARP) in Colorado?
• 2. What is the penalty under CRS 42-2-206?
• 3. How can I fight DARP charges?
• 4. Can the record be sealed?
• 5. Related offenses

1. What is “driving after revocation prohibited” (DARP) in Colorado?

DARP is when habitual traffic offenders (HTOs) drive while their license is revoked.¹ The length of the driver’s license revocation for HTOs is usually five (5) years.²

People become HTOs in one of the following two ways:

• • 10 or more infractions that add 4 or more points, or
  • 18 or more infractions that add 3 or fewer points. Or

2. By having three or more of the following driving-related convictions in a seven-year period:

• • Any DUI, DUI per se, or DWAI crime,
  • Reckless driving (CRS 42-4-1401),
  • Driving under restraint / DUR (CRS 42-2-138),
  • Making a false statement to the DMV,
  • Vehicular assault (CRS 18-3-205),
  • Vehicular homicide (CRS 18-3-106),
  • Aggravated motor vehicle theft (CRS 18-4-409), or
  • Hit-and-run involving death or serious injury.³

HTOs caught operating any motor vehicle during the revocation period face DARP charges. But HTOs face aggravated DARP charges if they are caught committing any of the following five traffic offenses during the revocation period:

1. Reckless driving
2. Eluding a police officer (CRS 42-4-1413),
3. Vehicular eluding (CRS 18-9-116.5)
4. Hit-and-run, or
5. Failing to report a car accident they were involved in.⁴

2. What is the penalty under CRS 42-2-206?

DARP is a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado. The punishment carries:

• $3,000 to $5,000 in fines, and
• 30 days to 18 months in county jail

The court may not grant probation. However, courts may suspend the jail sentence if the defendant completes community service (“useful public service”). The trial court judge may order 40 to 300 hours of community service.

Meanwhile, aggravated driving after revocation prohibited carries more severe penalties:

• $3,000 to $5,000 in fines, and
• 60 days to 18 months of jail time

And there is no option to perform community service instead of jail for aggravated DARP convictions.⁵

Note that HTOs are typically caught committing DARP during a traffic stop for another traffic violation, such as speeding (NRS 42-4-1101), careless driving (NRS 42-4-1402), or driving under the influence. Therefore, HTO defendants face not only DARP penalties but also penalties for the underlying driving offense.

3. How can I fight DARP charges?

Four potential defenses that could get a DARP charge dismissed or reduced are the following:

1. The defendant is not a habitual traffic offender. Like all government bureaucracies, the Colorado DMV makes clerical errors. Perhaps the defendant’s driving record incorrectly indicates that the defendant is an HTO. If the defendant can show that he/she never amassed the traffic points or convictions to warrant HTO status, the DARP charge should be dropped.⁶
2. The defendant was not driving the car. Mistaken identity is a common defense in criminal cases. Perhaps the police misidentified the defendant as the actual driver. Unless the District Attorney can prove that the defendant was behind the wheel, DARP charges should not stand.⁷
3. The defendant drove only because it was an emergency. HTOs are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle while their driving privileges are suspended, even during emergencies. But if the defendant can show that driving was a necessity, then the D.A. may be persuaded to lessen or dismiss the charge. An example may be driving a family member to the hospital if an ambulance was unavailable.⁸
4. The defendant did not know about the HTO status. DARP charges do not apply unless the defendant knew – or should have known – about the license revocation. That the DMV mailed out a notice of revocation is not conclusive proof of the defendant’s knowledge. Unless prosecutors can show that a reasonable person in the defendant’s position should have known about the revocation, the case should be thrown out.⁹

4. Can the record be sealed?

Colorado DARP convictions can be sealed from the defendant’s record three (3) years after the case ends. But if the DARP charge gets dismissed, the defendant can petition for a record seal right away.¹⁰

Learn how to seal Colorado criminal records.

5. Related offenses

5.1. Driving Under Restraint (DUR)

Driving under restraint (DUR) (CRS 42-2-138) is when non-HTOs drive on a suspended or revoked license in Colorado. This offense is generally a misdemeanor carrying a fine. But defendants face a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 30 days if the reason for the suspension was alcohol-related.¹¹

5.2. Driving without a License

Driving without a driver’s license (CRS 42-2-101) is generally a class 2 traffic misdemeanor in Colorado. Penalties include 10 to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $150 to $3,000.

People who have a current and valid license but forget to carry it with them while driving face charges for a class B traffic infraction. The same is true if the defendant’s license has been expired for less than one year. Penalties include a fine of $15 to $100. A second offense carries 6 DMV points. There is no mandatory jail time.¹²

Our traffic lawyers create attorney-client relationships throughout Colorado, including Denver, Greeley, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Arapahoe, Jefferson County and more.

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