Grand Junction Traffic Violation Attorneys

Driving is a privilege that most of us take for granted, but it can be taken away. The State of Colorado has a system that penalizes drivers for minor transgressions, and if you rack up enough points on your license, your license could be revoked.

Don’t wait to defend yourself. If you are facing driving-related charges in Colorado, the traffic defense lawyers at Peters & Nolan, LLC, can help restore your record and preserve your good name. Call us today at (970) 243-4357 to learn more.

What Is Colorado’s Point System?

If you are convicted of a traffic violation in Colorado, the court will notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the conviction. Each conviction will cause a certain number of points to be placed on your driving record. If you get too many points within a certain amount of time, you can lose your driver's license. The following are point accumulations that can result in suspension of your driving privileges by age.

If you are an Adult Driver (21 years of age or older):

• 12 points in 12 consecutive months
• 18 points in 24 consecutive months

If you are a Minor Driver (18 years of age through 20 years of age):

• 9 points in 12 consecutive months
• 12 points in 24 consecutive months
• 14 or more points while you are between the ages of 18-21

If you are under the age of 18 years old:

• 6 points in 12 consecutive months
• 7 points prior to turning 18 years old

There are many ways that you can get too many points against your driver's license. Below are the various driving offenses and the points that are assessed for each violation or conviction.

Driving-Related Offenses We Can Help With

A simple accident can turn into serious charges with significant jail time and stiff fines.

It’s important for drivers to understand the difference between careless driving and reckless driving. Careless driving is the lesser of the two charges and is defined as when a person operates a vehicle “in a careless and imprudent manner, without due regard for the width, grade, curves, corners, traffic, and use of the streets and highways and all other attendant circumstances.” This can include a lot of different driving behaviors, including weaving in and out traffic or driving in a manner that is not suitable for the weather conditions. It should be noted that the term vehicle can include motorcycles and mopeds, or a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle.

Reckless driving is defined as when a person operates a vehicle “in such a manner as to indicate either a wanton or a willful disregard for the safety of persons or property.” It must be shown that the driver was aware that his or her actions were dangerous and proceeded anyway. Reckless driving might include drag racing, intentionally cutting off another driver at high speed, or driving at twice the speed limit.

If you are driving in a careless or reckless manner and crash, killing someone, then you can be held responsible for vehicular homicide (also referred to as vehicular manslaughter). You must be found guilty of at least one of two elements to be convicted for this crime: either that you were driving in a reckless manner or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A reckless-driving-based conviction would normally carry penalties ranging from two to six years in prison and $2,000 to $500,000 in fines. If a person is killed and the at-fault driver is found to have been under the influence, the penalties range from four to 12 years in prison and $3,000 to $750,000 in fines.

Don’t Wait to Call a Defense Team

If you are facing life-altering penalties, you’ll need to consult with a lawyer right away. But even for a minor offense, such as careless driving, it’s critical that you have the most aggressive and professional defense possible, because prior convictions can be held against you in future cases.

It’s important to keep your driving record as clean as possible. The attorneys at Peters & Nolan, LLC have decades of experience defending drivers on the Western Slope. We’ll do everything we can to get charges against you reduced or dropped altogether. Call one of our representatives today at (970) 243-4357 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.