DUI vs. DWAI Blood Alcohol Content
Your blood alcohol content (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream after you drink. In Colorado, the legal limit for BAC is .08% for those over the age of 21. Anything above that is a DUI, with anything between .05% and .08% generally being a DWAI.
Penalties
While penalties vary on a case-by-case basis, you can expect penalties along these lines:
For a first time DWAI offense, there is potential for up to 180 days in jail, 8 points towards a license suspension, up to $500 in fines, and up to 48 hours community service.
For a first-time DUI offense you can face license revocation for 9 months, up to $1,000 in fines, a max of 1 year in jail, and as many as 96 hours of community service, as well as costly alcohol education classes.
After first-time offenses, penalties get much harsher. These include the requirement of having an interlock put in your car, significant jail time, costly fines and fees, years of license suspension, and, in some cases, complete loss of license privileges.