HB 17-1277

House Bill 17-1277 allows the Colorado Department of Revenue to suspend a driver's license if there is enough evidence that someone left the scene of an accident involving serious injury or death, not just when they are convicted. This means drivers can have their licenses suspended even before going through a full court process. The bill also lets drivers contest this suspension and request a special probationary license for essential needs like work or school. Since it has been signed, this law is now in effect and impacts anyone who might be involved in such an accident and whose license could be at risk of being suspended.

Official Summary

Currently, the department of revenue (department) is required to revoke the driver's license of a driver convicted of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death. The bill allows the department to also suspend the license when, based on a preponderance of the evidence, a driver left the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death. If both the suspension and revocation are imposed as a result of the same episode of driving, the bill requires the department to run the suspension and the revocation concurrently. The bill establishes a procedure by which a driver may contest the suspension of his or her license and request the issuance of a probationary license for the purpose of driving for employment, education, health, or other necessities. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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