PT5M58S
“After you're arrested at the scene, officers will transport you to either a police station or a county jail. Where you go depends on where you arrested. In El Paso County, most DUI arrests end up at the Criminal Justice Center in Colorado Springs. In Douglas County, you're usually taken to the Douglas County Detention Facility in Castle Rock. In Denver, most people go to the downtown detention center. And in Arapo County, that's typically the detention facility in Centennial.”
“Now, here's something that most people don't expect. That ride to the station is not casual. It's not off the record, and it's not a safe place to explain yourself. Officers are trained to engage you in conversation, and they may seem friendly, and they may ask how your night was, and they may say they're just trying to help. This is where people get themselves into trouble. Anything you say during transport can be written into a police report and later used against you in court. Even statements that feel harmless, even jokes, even frustration.”
“The safest approach is simple. Provide only basic identifying information. Your name, your date of birth, nothing more. Once you arrive at the station, the booking process begins.”
“This is where law enforcement officially documents your arrest and gathers the information. The first thing that usually happens is fingerprinting. Your fingerprints are taken and entered into law enforcement databases. Next come the photographs. These are standard booking photos, often called mug shots, taken from multiple angles. Then officers inventory your personal property. Your wallet, your phone, your keys, anything you had on you is cataloged and stored. This protects both you and the facility. But it also means everything you had with you is documented. After that, a background check is run. Law enforcement checks for prior criminal history, outstanding warrants, and any issues that could affect any release decisions.”
“And then there's paperwork. This is one of the most important parts of the booking process. You'll receive multiple documents, a summon to court, bond paperwork, and one document that's absolutely critical, the express consent affidavit, or sometimes called the notice of revocation. This entire booking process can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, sometimes longer. It really depends on how busy the facility is, whether it's a weekend or holiday, and how cooperative the process as a whole has been.”
“Before your release, you may be handed a notice of revocation. This piece of paper matters more than most people realize. It serves as your temporary driver's license for the next 7 days, and it explains your right to request a DMV hearing. If you lose this document, you create problems for yourself immediately. So, photograph it, save it, email it to yourself.”
“Colorado was something called the Colorado Express Consent Law. Most drivers have never heard of it until this worst possible moment. Under Colorado law, when you drive on Colorado roads, you've already agreed to submit to chemical testing of your breath or your blood if you're arrested or suspected for DUI. That agreement affects both your criminal case and your driver's license. The express consent notice explains whether you took or refused the testing, what those results were, excuse me, and what deadlines now apply to you.”
“Now, here's the part that surprises almost everyone. Your DMV case is completely separate from your criminal court case. And the deadlines come fast. You have just seven calendar days from the date of your arrest to request a DMV hearing. If you miss that deadline, your license suspension becomes automatic. No extensions, no explanations, no second chances. This is one of the most common ways people lose their license without ever stepping into a courtroom.”
“Now, here's what I want you to remember. The booking process isn't just administrative. It's evidence gathering. Everything that happens from the moment you're arrested through booking is being documented. What you say, how you act, what you sign, what paperwork you receive, all of it matters. That's why staying calm, saying less, and protecting your paperwork is so important.”
“Anything you say during transport can be written into a police report and later used against you in court. Even statements that feel harmless, even jokes, even frustration.”
“It serves as your temporary driver's license for the next 7 days, and it explains your right to request a DMV hearing. If you lose this document, you create problems for yourself immediately. So, photograph it, save it, email it to yourself.”
“You have just seven calendar days from the date of your arrest to request a DMV hearing. If you miss that deadline, your license suspension becomes automatic. No extensions, no explanations, no second chances.”
“The booking process isn't just administrative. It's evidence gathering. Everything that happens from the moment you're arrested through booking is being documented.”
“Booking is stressful, but it's also predictable. If you understand what's happening, you can avoid mistakes that hurt your case later. And if you act quickly after release, you can protect your license and your defense.”