Repeat drunk drivers in Colorado might soon face harsher penalties for driving under the influence, as a new bill is making its way through the Colorado House and Senate. The bill would make any driver convicted of his or her fourth DUI a felon. Drunk driving offenders could also be charged with a felony under the new law if this is their third conviction within seven years.

Why Is This New Law Important?

The story of Colorado resident Kristen Gregory can provide a strong argument in favor of harsher penalties for drunk drivers by showing the lasting suffering drunk driving accidents can inflict upon survivors. A drunk driver hit Kristen two years ago when she was walking with her three-year-old daughter. Fortunately, her daughter was unscathed, but Kristen was left with severe pain in her wrist and may need future operations.

The driver who hit Kristen has three previous DUIs spread throughout a 10-year history of drunk driving, but he only received a misdemeanor for hitting Kristen. Under the new law, this would be his fourth DUI, and thus a felony that would affect his ability to drive any time in the near future. In fact, 45 other states already have similar laws in place to deal with repeat drunk drivers.

Is it fair for Kristen to be forced to endure pain due to the irresponsible actions of another person? No, and often enough drunk driving accidents leave survivors in far worse shape – with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

If you have been hit by a drunk driver and have questions about your case, our highly experienced and dedicated injury attorneys at Metier Law Firm are here to provide answers.

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Did You Know? Centers for Disease Control statistics show that drivers with a BAC of higher than .08 who are involved in fatal car accidents were seven times more likely to have a history of drunk driving.