Colorado legal term
Driving under the influence in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Driving under the influence” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.
What does “Driving under the influence” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Driving under the influence" means driving a vehicle when a person has consumed alcohol or one or more drugs, or a combination of alcohol and one or more drugs, which alcohol alone, or one or more drugs alone, or alcohol combined with one or more drugs affect such person to a degree that such person is substantially incapable, either mentally or physically, or both mentally and physically, of exercising clear judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the safe operation of a vehicle. (C.R.S. § 18-3-106)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.