Colorado’s New Interlock Rule for First-Time DUI Takes Effect June 1, 2027. Here’s What Changes.

What the Law Does Now

Under current Colorado law, a first DUI conviction, or a first Express Consent revocation for a breath or blood test at 0.08 or above, triggers a nine-month license revocation. For qualifying first offenses with a BAC below 0.15, there are two ways through it.

•     Reinstate early with an interlock. Eligible drivers may seek early reinstatement when the revocation becomes active, subject to completing the reinstatement requirements. For qualifying first offenses under the current rules, DMV describes a nine-month interlock requirement running concurrently with the nine-month revocation, subject to applicable early-removal provisions. The device requires a breath sample before the engine starts and at intervals while driving.

•     Serve the full revocation. For qualifying drivers who can arrange alternative transportation, current law permits serving the full revocation before seeking reinstatement without interlock. Completing the revocation does not restore driving privileges by itself; formal reinstatement is still required. The new law eliminates this option for covered revocations.

A separate rule applies to drivers designated as persistent drunk drivers. A BAC of 0.15 or higher and a qualifying refusal are each grounds for that designation. Affected drivers generally face at least two years of interlock. HB26-1242 does not change that rule.

What Changes on June 1, 2027

House Bill 26-1242, signed by Governor Polis on May 28, 2026, amends C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5 in three ways.

1. Nine months of interlock becomes mandatory for covered first offenses. A person whose license is revoked for a first DUI or DUI per se conviction, or for a first Express Consent revocation based on a BAC of 0.08 or more, must hold an interlock-restricted license for nine consecutive months after reinstatement before becoming eligible for any other license. Whether the driver reinstates early or serves the full revocation, nine months of interlock follows. The stated exception is early removal: eligible drivers may qualify for early removal based on four consecutive qualifying monthly monitoring reports and satisfaction of the statutory requirements. Early removal requires Department approval.

2. The two-month wait for refusal cases is repealed. Under current law, a driver revoked for one year or more for refusing a chemical test must wait two months before applying for early reinstatement with an interlock. The new law removes that waiting period. The repeal does not affect the retained one-year waiting period for drivers who were under 21 at the time of the offense. A first qualifying refusal generally carries a one-year revocation and the persistent-drunk-driver designation; those consequences remain.

3. Financial assistance receives defined eligibility standards and discounts. Drivers may establish eligibility for the interlock affordability program by showing enrollment in a state or federal public assistance program, income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or satisfaction of Department criteria indicating the device is impractical to afford. Drivers who establish eligibility receive free standard installation (50% of the installation fee for high-end or electric vehicles), free removal on successful completion, and a discount of up to 50% on the monthly lease rate. Violation, lockout, and administrative fees are not discounted. Noncompliance can result in loss of assistance until eligibility is reestablished, and providers may request updated financial information no more than once every six months. Providers must give written program information when installation is scheduled and when the lease or service agreement is signed.

Who the New Rule Applies To - and the Timing Question

The act applies to revocations on or after June 1, 2027. Not arrests. Not convictions. Revocations.

That distinction matters because a single DUI case can produce two separate licensing actions: an administrative Express Consent revocation issued by the DMV, which can take effect within days of arrest, and a later revocation triggered by a criminal conviction. The administrative action runs on the DMV’s timeline. The conviction-based action runs on the court’s.

An arrest before June 1, 2027 does not necessarily mean the older rules govern every later licensing consequence. When administrative and conviction-based licensing actions overlap, counsel should review the driver’s record, the applicable revocation dates, credit provisions, and reinstatement requirements before advising on case timing. Resolving a criminal case before the effective date should not be presented as a guaranteed way to avoid interlock. The applicability language is express; how it applies to an individual driver’s licensing history requires case-specific analysis.

What the Refusal Change Means

Colorado’s Express Consent law attaches significant consequences to refusing a chemical test. A first qualifying refusal generally carries a one-year revocation rather than nine months, the persistent-drunk-driver designation with at least two years of interlock, and, under current law, a two-month wait before the driver may apply for early reinstatement. HB26-1242 removes the two-month wait for drivers who were 21 or older at the time of the offense. The other consequences remain, and evidence of a refusal may be admissible at trial. Whether to submit to testing is a decision that depends on the circumstances of the stop, and it is not one this post can make for you.

What This Means If You’re Facing a DUI Now

•     Act promptly on your DMV notice. Drivers generally have seven days to request a hearing following the applicable notice of revocation. Breath-test and refusal notices are typically provided by the officer; blood-test notices generally arrive later by mail. Follow the deadline on your paperwork. Missing it can waive hearing rights, although limited grounds for a late request may be available.

•     Ask your attorney how the licensing actions in your case interact. Where your administrative and conviction-based revocations fall relative to June 1, 2027, and what that means for interlock exposure, belongs in the strategy discussion from the first meeting.

•     If cost is a concern, ask about the assistance program. The financial-assistance changes are designed to reduce financial barriers for eligible drivers. If you qualify, the device may cost less than you expect.

•     Don’t assume the old rules will still be there. Online summaries, forum answers, and some law-firm websites will describe the serve-the-full-revocation option after it is no longer available for covered revocations. Check the date on anything you read.

Charged with DUI in Colorado? LawTech defends DUI cases statewide, challenging the stop, the testing, and the procedure, and giving you straight answers about your options from the first conversation, including how HB26-1242 may affect your case. Schedule a confidential consultation.

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law described here takes effect June 1, 2027, and may be amended before then. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.

SOURCES

House Bill 26-1242, “Interlock Device for Impaired Drivers,” 2026 Reg. Sess. (signed May 28, 2026; effective June 1, 2027), amending C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5. Signed act: leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116806/download. Bill page: leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1242

C.R.S. § 42-2-126 (Express Consent revocation and hearing request); C.R.S. § 42-2-125(1)(b.5) (revocation on DUI conviction)

Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, interlock and reinstatement guidance: dmv.colorado.gov