Criminal Defense Legal Blog

If you’ve been charged with sexual assault in the state of Colorado, you will find out very quickly how serious this offense can be.  A felony conviction for sexual assault will carry life-changing consequences, even if the prison sentence is short.  This is why it is so important to consult with an experienced Denver criminal defense attorney and learn your rights before attempting to defend yourself. 

Because sexual assault is a felony offense, it carries serious penalties, even for first-time offenders.  Anyone who has had more than one conviction will face significant prison time.  But in addition to felony charges, fines and jail time, a sexual assault conviction will also require mandatory registration with local authorities as a sex offender every 90 days for the remainder of the offender’s natural life.  In accordance with Megan’s Law, the local police departments are then required to give notice to the community of the presence of the sex offender. 

Colorado Springs speed laws can be quite confusing. We had taken a look at some of the speed limit laws last week and seen that there are many exemptions and special cases that you need to be aware of. Also, the speed limits depend on the type of road and the type of vehicle as well. Many people are confused however about whether or not there is a minimum speed limit in Colorado and if so, what that limit is.

Additionally, there are many times when one needs to drive at a lower speed. The Colorado Revised Statutes have taken this into consideration and crafted a set of rules that must be followed under such circumstances.

If you're in an accident that may have been caused by proceeding at a lower speed than what is allowed, be sure to contact a Colorado Springs personal injury attorney who will help you out in these matters.

Let's take a look at the details of the minimum speed limits in Colorado.

Basics of minimum speed limits

The primary rationale for minimum speed limits is to prevent the obstruction of traffic. Since this is a highly subjective consideration, the choice is left to the local authorities or the DoT to declare these limits depending on the specific area over which they have jurisdiction. Once they are declared, it's a class A traffic infraction to violate these limits - except of course when it's otherwise required by law or when it's unsafe to go any faster.

But the law also recognizes that even a conscientious person may have many reasons to slow down and has created guidelines regarding the course of action. Basically the rules boil down to a single imperative - drive as much to the right as possible until no more traffic is impeded by your slow speed. Another option is for the driver to pull up whenever he or she can until the traffic behind has passed by.

In some places, special lanes may be provided for traffic going uphill. Or there might be roadside turnouts. In either case, drivers going at a lower speed are obliged to use them to prevent any obstruction of traffic flow.

Contact your Colorado Springs Personal Injury attorney

There are many ways in which you can be badly caught in a lawsuit regarding an accident. To get out of it, you have to defend youself cogently by citing the proper refernces and case law. Our Clawson & Clawson attorneys can help you avoid a bad outcome and ensure that your rights are protected. Contact us now for a free initial consultation.

As a Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney, I wasn’t surprised by the recent article in Men’s Health Magazine, ranking Colorado Springs as the “drunkest city in Colorado” and the 16th drunkest city in the United States.  The study was based on more than just DUI arrests.  It also factored in the severity of DUI penalties and the number of DUI related deaths. In addition, the long term health effects of too much alcohol seem to be catching up with Colorado Springs residents, because it also ranks 17th for liver disease, a common result of frequent binge drinking. 

The reason I wasn’t too surprised by this study is that I see so many DUI and DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) cases coming through Colorado Springs’ criminal courts.  Even though the DUI laws are the 18th harshest in the nation, it still ranks 33rd for the number of total arrests for drunk driving. 

Some of the most common juvenile crimes are harassment, drug use, vandalism and gang-related violence.  Juvenile crime poses a unique threat to the community and it is the responsibility of society to prevent it before it manifests itself into more devastating consequences. 

Like many other Colorado Springs criminal defense lawyers, I am acutely aware of the risk factors associated with higher incidences of juvenile crime.  Some of the most prevalent risk factors include poverty, the presence of drugs, and violent gangs in a particular community.  Children who live in homes where domestic violence takes place are also more likely to become delinquent, and when you factor in easy access to firearms and increasing violence in movies and video games, it is no surprise that some children are at a greater risk than others for criminal acts. 

Computers have made it much easier than ever to commit acts of fraud and criminal trespassing, and Colorado lawmakers are finding that state laws don’t always cover every type of computer crime.  If you are involved in a business activity that is under investigation for white-collar computer crime, the most sensible course of action is to seek counsel from a Denver criminal defense attorney.

Because of federal statutes prohibiting seven types of computer-related conduct, many computer crimes can carry a serious penalty.  For example, in the case of a white-collar computer crime like fraud, someone who is convicted of a $500 to $15,000 theft will be guilty of a Class 4 felony.  Anything over $15,000 is a considered a Class 3 felony.  Gaining information illegally from banks or official government agencies, or accessing information from a computer as part of a plan to commit theft are two common methods white collar computer crime. 

In Colorado, like most other states, being accused of a hit and run is a very serious issue.  If you have been charged with this type of crime in Colorado, you will need the help of an experienced Denver criminal defense lawyer.

According to Colorado law and the Second Amendment, American citizens have the right to bear arms to protect their home, themselves and their property, but these rights are often curtailed by other laws that are designed to protect citizens and prevent violence.  If you are facing a felony weapons charge for possession of a weapon, a Denver Criminal Defense Attorney can help. 

As a Colorado Springs DUI Attorney, I have been representing citizens of Colorado in disputes with the laws of the state pertaining to drunk driving.  In most of these cases, my clients are guilty, but they are hoping to reduce their sentence or the DUI’s impact on their insurance or employment records.  Thanks to some minor loopholes with regard to evidence-gathering, I am usually successful in minimizing the long-term impact of a DUI charge.  However, it is important to note that my awareness of these opportunities in no way condones drunk driving, but I am a little cautious of a new bill that, if passed, will dramatically affect repeat offenders.

As a Denver criminal defense attorney, I run into a lot of people who are surprised at the seriousness of a criminal trespassing charge.  In many cases, defendants don’t expect the charges to result in prison time or fines, but the state takes this crime very seriously.

Thanks to the separation between Church and State, it won’t go over too well if you walk into a Colorado courtroom citing the Lord’s Prayer, and expecting that the plaintiffs will “forgive those who trespass against us."  In fact, being charged with criminal trespassing in Colorado can be very difficult to defend unless you work with an experienced attorney.   If you have been charged with trespassing, you should hire a Denver criminal defense lawyer immediately. 

Have you been accused of a sex crime in Colorado?  In Colorado, as in other states, sex crimes are taken very seriously.  If you’ve been charged with a sex crime in Colorado, you don’t have the advantage of peacefully negotiating an out-of-court settlement; you need to seek the counsel of a Colorado Springs sex crimes attorney.

A qualified Colorado personal injury attorney will uncover evidence, interview potential witnesses, and prepare you for the stress of defending a sex crimes charge.  Because the consequences to sex crimes victims can last a lifetime, or even result in serious injury or death, the public has a strong aversion to sex offenders.  This can make a charge like this very difficult to defend properly, even if you are innocent.