{"id":112629,"date":"2015-05-07T20:42:55","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T02:42:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/felony-dui-off-to-the-governor\/"},"modified":"2015-05-07T20:42:55","modified_gmt":"2015-05-08T02:42:55","slug":"felony-dui-off-to-the-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/felony-dui-off-to-the-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Felony DUI off to the governor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Lawmakers
Lawmakers on Wednesday approved making a fourth drunken-driving conviction a felony.<\/span>Courtesy of iStockphoto<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

DENVER \u2013 After years of failed attempts, on Wednesday Colorado lawmakers finally passed a measure that would create a felony crime for repeat drunken-driving offenders.<\/p>\n

The bill passed on the last day of the legislative session with widespread support. The Senate backed the bill by a vote of 34-1, with only Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, opposing the bill. It now heads to the governor for his signature.<\/p>\n

House Bill 1043 would allow for a felony charge in DUI cases on a fourth offense over a lifetime. Gov. John Hickenlooper has indicated support for the measure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to say enough is enough,\u201d said Rep. Beth McCann, D-Denver, a sponsor of the bill. \u201cWe are not going to tolerate people continuing to drive while they are intoxicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

In its original form, the bill would have created a felony charge after three DUI convictions. But lawmakers amended the bill after that proposal appeared unlikely to pass.<\/p>\n

As the bill made its way through the legislative process this year, lawmakers heard emotional testimony from victims of drunken-driving incidents, who spoke of how their lives were profoundly changed as a result of horrific accidents involving inebriated drivers.<\/p>\n

Opponents, however, raised concerns that the measure focused too much on punishment instead of treatment.<\/p>\n

But lawmakers were compelled by a need to adjust a gap in law, pointing out that Colorado is among only five states where drunken drivers face only misdemeanor charges punishable by up to a year in jail, even after repeated convictions.<\/p>\n

pmarcus@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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