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Legal concept

Actual Physical Control

The definition of driving in Colorado for driving under the influence charges; it is broader than physically driving and is determined on a case-by-case, fact-dependent basis.

What Right Law Group attorneys say

The chemical testing, it needs to be done within 2 hours of having actual physical control over the vehicle. Um, if it's not done within 2 hours of actual physical control, um, that can affect the case in a number of different ways. First, on the DMV side of things, that's enough reason for the DMV to actually dismiss the case on their side, which means that it may be possible to keep your license. On the criminal side, it doesn't generally result in a full dismissal of the case, but it does go to the weight of the evidence and whether that test can be taken as being scientifically valid at that point. Uh so it does absolutely go to the significance of the evidence and how much it may play a role in the jury's mind.
Gannon Becker · DUI Defense in Colorado | Challenging Police Investigation & TestingWatch clip ↗
So actual physical control is the definition of driving in Colorado when it comes to driving under the influence charges. So it's not always what people think when you know if you are driving down the street you know you're in actual physical control of the vehicle. But actual physical control is more than that from a legal perspective. So, there's situations in which maybe you're sitting in the front seat, uh, the keys are in the ignition, but the car is not on. Well, a lot of times that can be considered actual physical control
Gannon Becker · DUI Defense in Colorado | Challenging Police Investigation & TestingWatch clip ↗
and you have to take it on on a case-by case basis, but it's it's really fact dependent on when somebody is actually in control of the vehicle for purposes of the DUI statute. And there's all sorts of situations in which that can come up. And maybe intuitively, you know that you're you're not driving or it doesn't make sense that you should be considered to be driving. Um but it is a different question uh under the law as to whether you have actual physical control of the of the vehicle uh for the DUI statute.
Gannon Becker · DUI Defense in Colorado | Challenging Police Investigation & TestingWatch clip ↗
The chemical testing, it needs to be done within 2 hours of having actual physical control over the vehicle.
Gannon Becker · DUI Defense in Colorado | Challenging Police Investigation & TestingWatch clip ↗
So actual physical control is the definition of driving in Colorado when it comes to driving under the influence charges.
Gannon Becker · DUI Defense in Colorado | Challenging Police Investigation & TestingWatch clip ↗

Frequently asked questions

5 “Common” Police Mistakes That Get Your DUI Dismissed

Right Law Group's guide explains: "If you have been arrested for DUI, the first thing that people want to know is how can I get my DUI dismissed. Facing a DUI charge in Colorado can be scary and overwhelming."

Source · Read guide

Each answer links directly to the source where a Right Law Group attorney addressed this question.

1 answers grounded in Right Law Group sources

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What clients say

The situation

a DUI case

What changed

knows the law and helps represent you to the best of their ability

The result

helped me get a DUI case dismissed in El Paso county

Jason M. Zoe Levesque★★★★★Google verified
The situation

pulled over in Manitou Springs and accused of a DUI… even though I was completely sober!

What changed

They took the time to hear me out, review every detail of my case, and make sure I was never left in the dark

The result

Dismissed at the DMV hearing, and dismissed in court

Dylan R. Zoe Levesque★★★★★Google verified
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