Driver’s License Reinstatement

If your license is revoked for an alcohol-related offense you will need to go through a process known as reinstatement in order to get your license back after your revocation period ends. The following is a guide to the reinstatement process depending upon the reason your license was revoked.

Experienced Denver DUI criminal defense attorney Jason Savela can help you reinstate your driver’s license.

1st Offense with a BAC of 0.08 to 0.149

Your first offense of bring with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 to 0.149 results in a 9-month revocation. The driver is eligible for early reinstatement after completing one month of the revocation. They are then eligible for a restricted license and interlock for the time remaining on the restraint or revocation (the remaining 8 months).

When you reinstate early the revocation remains in effect until you complete the reinstatement process. The reinstatement will be processed by mail and generally takes between 21 and 28 days. If you are over 21 years old at the time of the offense and are a Colorado resident you may reinstate early after only 1 month of the revocation period. Additionally, if your blood alcohol content was below 0.15%, you reinstate early, drive only vehicles with an interlock installed, and do not fail any BAC tests, then you may be eligible for an unrestricted license after only 4 months of interlock driving.

On the other hand, if you choose not to reinstate early, then you are required to do the following for full reinstatement.

• Provide a certificate of SR22 insurance company and maintain it for the 9 months following reinstatement. This period is extended to as long as three years if you were part of an accident.
• Complete an application for reinstatement or Form DR 2870.
• Complete an Alcohol Certification or Form DR 2598.
• Mail the SR22 certificate, Form DR 2870, Form DR 2598, along with a check for $95.00 to the DMV address for reinstatement applications.
• If you are reinstating early you must maintain the SR22 Certificate during the entire period you have a restricted license.
• Lastly, you must have an interlock installed on every vehicle you own or drive and include a notarized restricted license ignition interlock agreement, a copy of the signed interlock lease agreement, and an installation certificate with the reinstatement packet.

During the time that your privilege to drive is restricted your interlock may be extended if you have three or more BAC results over 0.025. Additionally, your privilege to drive will be revoked for at least a year or the remaining period of restriction, whichever is longer, if you attempt to drive a vehicle without an interlock or attempt to bypass the interlock.

We can fight interlock extensions and violations, but if you do not contest the alleged violation your interlock period will be extended by a year.

First Offense with a BAC over 0.150

The first time you are found to have driven with a BAC over 0.150 you receive a 9-month revocation. After completing one month of the revocation you are eligible for early reinstatement. You are then eligible for a restricted license with interlock for the remainder of the restraint or two years, whichever is longer.

The revocation will remain in effect until you complete the reinstatement process by mail and the application is processed. If you were over 21 at the time of the offense and are otherwise eligible to hold a driver’s license you can reinstate early after serving one month of the revocation period.

In order to reinstate you must do the following. It is worth nothing that the reinstatement requirements are the same whether or not it is done early, so there is no reason not to early reinstate.

• Provide an SR22 certificate and maintain it for 2 years.
• Enroll in Level 2 alcohol education and therapy and include the affidavit of enrollment (Form DR2643) or have your alcohol education and therapy provider fax a copy directly to the DMV.
• Complete Form DR2870, application for reinstatement.
• Have an interlock installed in every vehicle you will drive and maintain the device for 2 years.
• These documents must then all be mailed along with a notarized ignition interlock agreement and a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV address for reinstatement applications.

During the period of time that your privilege to drive is restricted it is important to note that if have three or more BAC results over 0.25 your interlock period may be extended. Additionally your privilege to drive will be revoked for either a year or the remaining restraint period, whichever is longer, if you drive a vehicle without an interlock or bypass the interlock device.

First Offense Refusal

When a driver refuses the chemical test as part of their first alcohol-related driving offense, their license is revoked for one year. They can be eligible for early reinstatement after completing two months of the revocation period. Then they can get a restricted license with interlock for the remaining period of restraint or two years, whichever time period is longer. That revocation will remain in effect until the completion of the reinstatement process.

In order to early reinstate after serving two months of revocation, you have to do the following. Note the requirements for reinstatement and early reinstatement are identical, so there is no reason not to reinstate early.

• SR22 certificate which must be maintained for two years or the period you will have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enroll in Level 2 alcohol education and therapy. You must include the affidavit of enrollment (Form DR2643) or have your level II provider fax a copy directly to the DMV.
• Application for Reinstatement (DMV Form DR2870).
• Install an interlock on each vehicle you will drive and include a notarized ignition interlock agreement (DMV Form DR2058).
• Mail these documents and a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV address for reinstatement applications.

In order get your license reinstated you will need to retake the eye test, written test, and driving test through the DMV. This is the final step once all of your paperwork has been submitted and processed.

Contact a Colorado criminal defense lawyer representing clients in Boulder, CO today to schedule your initial consultation.

Second Offense with BAC above 0.08

After you are convicted of a 2^nd offense with a BAC over 0.08 a one-year revocation results. You can early reinstate after completing one month of the revocation. You are then eligible for a restricted license with interlock for the remainder of the revocation or two years, whichever is longer. The revocation will remain in place until you complete the reinstatement process by mail.  The following is required to reinstate.

• A copy of your SR22 certificate from your insurance company which must be maintained for three years or however long you have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enrollment in level 2 alcohol education and therapy. Either you must mail the affidavit of enrollment (DMV Form DR2643) to the DMV or your alcohol education provider may fax a copy directly to the DMV.
• An application for reinstatement, DMV Form 2870.
• You must have an interlock installed on every vehicle you will drive, and include the ignition interlock lease agreement (DMV Form DR2058) with your reinstatement packet.
• Mail these documents along with a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV reinstatement address for processing.

Second Offense Refusal

After you are convicted of a 2^nd offense and refuse to cooperate with a chemical test a two year revocation results. You can early reinstate after completing two month of the revocation. You are then eligible for a restricted license with interlock for the remainder of the revocation or two years, whichever is longer. The revocation will remain in place until you complete the reinstatement process by mail.  The following is required to reinstate.

• A copy of your SR22 certificate from your insurance company which must be maintained for three years or however long you have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enrollment in level 2 alcohol education and therapy. Either you must mail the affidavit of enrollment (DMV Form DR2643) to the DMV or your alcohol education provider may fax a copy directly to the DMV.
• An application for reinstatement, DMV Form 2870.
• You must have an interlock installed on every vehicle you will drive, and include the ignition interlock lease agreement (DMV Form DR2058) with your reinstatement packet.
• Mail these documents along with a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV reinstatement address for processing.

Third or Subsequent Offense with BAC above 0.08

After you are convicted of a 3^rd or subsequent offense with a BAC over 0.08 a two-year revocation results. You can early reinstate after completing one month of the revocation. You are then eligible for a restricted license with interlock for the remainder of the revocation or two years, whichever is longer. The revocation will remain in place until you complete the reinstatement process by mail.  The following is required to reinstate.

• A copy of your SR22 certificate from your insurance company, which must be maintained for three years or however long you have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enrollment in level 2 alcohol education and therapy. Either you must mail the affidavit of enrollment (DMV Form DR2643) to the DMV or your alcohol education provider may fax a copy directly to the DMV.
• An application for reinstatement, DMV Form 2870.
• You must have an interlock installed on every vehicle you will drive, and include the ignition interlock lease agreement (DMV Form DR2058) with your reinstatement packet.
• Mail these documents along with a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV reinstatement address for processing.

Third or Subsequent Offense Refusal

After you are convicted of a 3^rd or subsequent offense and refuse to cooperate with a chemical test a three year revocation results. You can early reinstate after completing two month of the revocation. You are then eligible for a restricted license with interlock for the remainder of the revocation or two years, whichever is longer. The revocation will remain in place until you complete the reinstatement process by mail.  The following is required to reinstate.

• A copy of your SR22 certificate from your insurance company which must be maintained for three years or however long you have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enrollment in level 2 alcohol education and therapy. Either you must mail the affidavit of enrollment (DMV Form DR2643) to the DMV or your alcohol education provider may fax a copy directly to the DMV.
• An application for reinstatement, DMV Form 2870.
• You must have an interlock installed on every vehicle you will drive, and include the ignition interlock lease agreement (DMV Form DR2058) with your reinstatement packet.
• Mail these documents along with a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV reinstatement address for processing.

Two Alcohol-Related Convictions within 5 Years

When a driver has two alcohol-related driving convictions within a 5-year period their license is revoked for a period of one year. They are eligible to reinstate after serving one month of revocation. They are then able to obtain a restricted license with an ignition interlock for the time remaining of the revocation or two years, whichever is longer. The revocation will remain in effect until you complete reinstatement. In order to reinstate your license under these circumstances you must:

• Provide an SR22 certificate from your insurance company and keep it for either three years or the period you have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enroll in level 2 alcohol education and therapy and either mail the affidavit of enrollment (DMV Form DR2643) to the DMV or have your alcohol education provider fax it to the DMV.
• Complete an application for reinstatement (DMV Form DR2870).
• Have an ignition interlock installed on each vehicle you will drive?
• Mail the above documentation including the ignition interlock lease agreement and a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV address for license reinstatement applications.

Three Alcohol-Related Convictions during Lifetime

When a driver has three or more alcohol-related driving convictions during their lifetime, then their license is revoked for a period of two years. They are eligible to reinstate after serving one month of revocation. They are then able to obtain a restricted license with an ignition interlock for the time remaining of the revocation or two years, whichever is longer. The revocation will remain in effect until you complete reinstatement. In order to reinstate your license under these circumstances you must:

• Provide an SR22 certificate from your insurance company and keep it for either three years or the period you have a restricted license, whichever is longer.
• Enroll in level 2 alcohol education and therapy and either mail the affidavit of enrollment (DMV Form DR2643) to the DMV or have your alcohol education provider fax it to the DMV.
• Complete an application for reinstatement (DMV Form DR2870).
• Have an ignition interlock installed on each vehicle you will drive.
• Mail the above documentation including the ignition interlock lease agreement and a check or money order for $95.00 to the DMV address for license reinstatement applications.

If you would like to schedule an initial consultation, contact a Colorado criminal defense attorney, we represent clients in Boulder, Colorado, and the surrounding area. The Savela Law Firm, P.C. Give us a call at (720) 821-1001 or complete our inquiry form.

If you are dealing with a license suspension, revocation, or reinstatement an experienced Denver DUI attorney is essential. Get in touch with experienced Denver license reinstatement attorney Jason Savela by calling (720) 821-1001.