Crowley County License Hearing Guide

A driving under the influence (DUI) arrest under C.R.S. 42-4-1301 triggers two separate legal actions. The first is a criminal case prosecuted in the Combined Court in Ordway. The second is an administrative action handled by the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) Division of Motor Vehicles. This administrative process is completely independent of the criminal court case. You can lose your driving privilege through the administrative process even if your criminal charges are dismissed. Conversely, keeping your license at the administrative hearing does not prevent the criminal court from suspending your driving privilege upon conviction.

CRITICAL DEADLINE: Request Hearing Within 7 Days

The deadline to protect your driving privilege is short. You have exactly 7 days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing if you took a breath test or refused chemical testing. If you took a blood test, the 7-day clock starts on the date printed on the Notice of Revocation letter mailed to you after the laboratory processes your blood sample.

You must submit this request directly to the state DMV. The local registration office in Ordway does not process these requests. You can submit your hearing request in three ways:

1. Online through the Colorado Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles portal. This method provides an immediate digital receipt.
2. In person at a state driver's license office, such as the La Junta Driver License Office located at 13 W. 3rd St, La Junta, CO 81050.
3. Via email by sending your request to dor_hearingrequest@state.co.us.

Failure to request the hearing within the 7-day window results in the automatic revocation of your driving privilege on the eighth day. No temporary permits or extensions are granted if you miss this deadline.

Automatic License Suspension

If You Took the Breath/Blood Test and Failed

Under Colorado law, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher triggers an administrative license revocation. If you took a breath test at the jail and failed, the arresting officer will serve you with a Notice of Revocation and a temporary driving permit. This temporary permit is valid for 7 days.

For blood tests, the timeline is delayed. The arresting officer will not seize your license immediately because the blood sample must be sent to a laboratory for analysis. This analysis takes 4 to 8 weeks. Once the result is processed, the state mails the Notice of Revocation to the address on file. You must ensure your address is updated with the state DMV to avoid missing this letter. The temporary permit in the letter is valid for 7 days from the mail date.

If You Refused Testing

Colorado's implied consent law dictates that any person who drives a motor vehicle in the state consents to chemical testing if an officer has probable cause to suspect DUI. Refusing to take a breath or blood test results in an automatic 1-year administrative license revocation.

A refusal also carries stricter reinstatement terms. Unlike test failures, a refusal requires a mandatory 60-day period of total suspension before you can apply for early reinstatement with an ignition interlock device. The temporary permit issued at the time of a refusal arrest is valid for 7 days.

The ALR/Administrative Hearing

What It Is

The Express Consent hearing is an administrative proceeding held before a hearing officer from the Colorado Department of Revenue Hearings Division. The sole purpose of this hearing is to determine whether your driving privilege should be revoked. It does not determine criminal guilt or innocence, and no jail time can be imposed.

The burden of proof at this hearing is a preponderance of the evidence. This is a much lower standard than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in the Combined Court in Ordway. The hearing officer will review the officer's affidavit, chemical test results, and any testimony presented.

How to Prepare

Possible Outcomes

The hearing officer will issue a decision at the conclusion of the hearing or shortly thereafter:

• Suspension Upheld: The hearing officer rules that the stop was lawful, the officer followed proper procedures, and the test result or refusal was valid. Your license is revoked immediately.
• Suspension Overturned: The hearing officer finds a procedural error, a lack of probable cause, or a failure of the officer to appear after a subpoena. Your driving privilege is reinstated, provided there are no other active suspensions.
• Restricted License: The hearing officer does not issue restricted licenses. If the suspension is upheld, you must apply for a restricted license separately through the state DMV.

Hardship/Restricted License in Colorado

Drivers facing a DUI revocation may apply for early reinstatement with an Ignition Interlock Device (IID). This allows you to drive a vehicle equipped with an approved breath-testing device.

To be eligible for early reinstatement, you must meet specific state requirements:

• For a first-time test failure, you may be eligible for immediate early reinstatement, or after a 30-day suspension period, depending on your BAC level.
• For a refusal, you must serve a mandatory 60-day suspension before you can apply for reinstatement with an IID.

The application process requires you to complete the following steps:

1. Install an approved IID in your vehicle and obtain an installation certificate.
2. Obtain SR-22 insurance and secure a binder showing proof of coverage.
3. Complete the Application for Reinstatement (Form DR 2870).
4. Submit the application, the installation certificate, proof of SR-22, and the state reinstatement fee to the DMV.

Getting Your License Back

After Criminal Case Concludes

Reinstating your license requires satisfying both the DMV administrative requirements and any court-ordered requirements from your criminal case. Even if your administrative suspension period ends, your license remains invalid until you complete the formal reinstatement process.

The state requires several components for full reinstatement:

• Payment of the state reinstatement fee.
• Filing and maintaining an SR-22 insurance certificate for a specified period (usually 3 years).
• Enrollment in or completion of Level I or Level II Alcohol Education and Therapy.

The Probation Department, located at 110 East 6th Street, Room 302, Ordway, CO 81063 (Phone: 719-384-5973), conducts the mandatory pre-sentence alcohol evaluation to determine your required level of education and therapy. Because there are no physical DUI schools in Ordway, you must complete these classes online through state-approved telehealth providers or travel to La Junta. Physical options in La Junta include Valley-Wide Health Systems at (719) 383-3330 or Southeast Health Group at (800) 511-5446.

Local DMV Offices

You must use the correct office for your licensing needs. The local office in Ordway does not handle driver's license reinstatements or hearings.

Ordway Motor Vehicle Office (Registration Only)

• Address: 631 Main Street, Ste 102, Ordway, CO 81063
• Phone: (719) 267-5224
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Services: License plates, registration, and titles only.

La Junta Driver License Office (Nearest Hub)

• Address: 13 W. 3rd St, La Junta, CO 81050
• Services: Driver's license issuance, reinstatements, and restricted license processing.

Special Programs

The state offers specific programs to assist drivers in regaining limited driving privileges during a revocation period.

Ignition Interlock Program

The state's ignition interlock program allows suspended drivers to operate a vehicle equipped with an approved breathalyzer. The device prevents the vehicle from starting if it detects alcohol on the driver's breath. You must pay all installation and monthly lease fees directly to the provider.

Adult Diversion Program

The 16th Judicial District Attorney offers an Adult Diversion Program. This program is highly discretionary and is generally limited to first-time offenders with low BAC levels and no accidents. While participation can lead to the dismissal of criminal charges in the Combined Court, it does not stop or dismiss the separate DMV administrative revocation.