It's hard to escape the law. That's because Colorado is a member of the Interstate Driver License Compact. The Compact enables member states to exchange information regarding driver's license suspensions and traffic violations of non-residents with their home states.

To clarify how this works, here are two examples:

• Let's say you are a resident of another state that's a member of the Compact and are arrested for DUI in Colorado. If you are convicted, your home state DMV will be informed of your conviction. Any subsequent conviction in your home state or any other Compact state will count as a second DUI.
• It works the other way too. Let's say you are a Colorado resident and have a Colorado DUI conviction on your record. If you are convicted for DUI in a Compact state, that conviction with count as your second DUI conviction - in Colorado and all other Compact states.

The Interstate Driver License Compact covers Colorado, 44 other states, and the District of Columbia. All of the states that border Colorado are members of the Compact. It enables member states to share the driving records of people whose licenses are suspended, and those who have been convicted of DUI and moving violations. It does not cover "stationary" offenses such as parking violations.

What the Driver License Compact means for you

A DUI conviction will negatively affect your life in many ways. And if you are convicted of DUI in Colorado, your driving record will follow you almost anywhere in the U.S. The best way to avoid or minimize those consequences is to obtain a satisfactory resolution of your DUI case.

If you have been arrested for DUI, you should in mind this important fact: A significant number of DUI arrests do not result in convictions. Even if you were over the .08 limit, a single mistake made by a police officer could result in the dismissal of the charge or a reduction to a nonalcohol driving offense.

Don't take chances with your future. Speak with an experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as possible.