How Colorado DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Colorado is prosecuted in the County Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Colorado county courts hear misdemeanor DUI and DWAI cases, while felony DUI — usually a fourth or subsequent offense — is tried in district court. Appeals from a county court DUI judgment go to the district court for the same judicial district, with further review in the Colorado Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at coloradojudicial.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Colorado
A DUI case in Colorado is heard in the County Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 7 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-1301 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Colorado's implied-consent section, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-1301.1. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 7 days — A failed or refused chemical test triggers the Express Consent revocation process under C.R.S. § 42-4-1301.1. You have 7 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the County Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the County Court. Colorado county courts hear misdemeanor DUI and DWAI cases, while felony DUI — usually a fourth or subsequent offense — is tried in district court.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $600–$1,000, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 9 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 5 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense is a misdemeanor; interlock is normally required to reinstate.
- 6Appeal — Appeals from county court criminal judgments go to district court under C.R.S. § 16-2-114, with a notice of appeal due within 35 days.
- 7Reinstatement — Revocation can include a hard period before interlock-restricted reinstatement is allowed. Colorado requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Colorado
- Appeals from county court criminal judgments go to district court under C.R.S. § 16-2-114, with a notice of appeal due within 35 days.
- The DMV's Express Consent programme operates administratively and separately from the criminal case.
- A driver has 7 days after a DUI arrest or refusal to request an Express Consent hearing with the Department of Revenue.
- The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes self-help material on county-to-district court appeals.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Colorado ZIP codes covered
These Colorado ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Colorado resources
Counties
Other Colorado official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Colorado?
- First-offense DUI cases in Colorado are heard in the County Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Colorado?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the CO driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 7 days of arrest.