Denver Criminal Law Blog

A bill in Colorado that would increase criminal charges filed against certain offenders has been approved and is waiting for the governor's signature. The Crimes Against Pregnant Women Act allows prosecutors to file additional charges against a person who commits a crime against a pregnant woman that results in the unborn child being killed.

The act proposes new felony charges for the unlawful termination of a woman's pregnancy. The act was proposed to create harsh penalties for crimes committed against pregnant women that cause their unborn child to die. If the Crimes Against Pregnant Women Act is signed into law, offenders could be charged with a felony for crimes that harm a pregnant woman and her baby.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that police officers must have a search warrant before they can take blood samples from individuals suspected of drunk driving. The justices said that taking a blood sample to test a driver's blood alcohol content without a search warrant violates the person's Fourth Amendment rights.

The recent ruling has stemmed a debate in Colorado over the proposed idea to create marijuana DUI laws that would mimic current drunk driving laws. Opponents of the proposed marijuana DUI bill state that the Supreme Court ruling should show Colorado lawmakers that it is unreasonable and a violation of a driver's rights to take a blood sample to test for drugs or alcohol in his or her system without a warrant.

Colorado is closer to passing a marijuana DUI bill that would limit the amount of marijuana a driver can have in their system before they are considered "too high" to drive safely. Under the bill, drivers who have five nanograms of THC in their system can be charged with driving under the influence of marijuana. The charges would be similar to current drunk driving offenses.

The proposed bill to limit the amount of THC in a driver's system was passed by the Colorado House last week. If the bill is passed by Congress and signed into law by the governor, it could increase the number of people who can be charged with driving under the influence in Colorado.

Many people live with roommates, especially when they are younger or during college. While having roommates can help you pay the rent, if your roommate is taking part in any illegal activities, you could end up facing criminal charges for your roommate's offenses under Colorado law.

Specifically, if your roommate is selling illegal drugs and gets caught, you could be charged with drug possession and other criminal offenses depending on your knowledge and involvement with the alleged crime. What risks do you face if your roommate is suspected of possessing and selling illegal drugs?