DUI Law Firm Denver reports that GPS monitoring requirements have emerged as a significant burden for DUI defendants in Colorado, with courts increasingly mandating electronic monitoring as a condition of pre-trial release and probation. The firm notes that defendants now face monthly monitoring fees ranging from $300 to $500, adding substantial costs to already expensive legal proceedings.
Colorado courts have expanded the use of GPS ankle monitors for DUI cases over the past year, particularly for repeat offenders and cases involving high blood alcohol content levels. The monitoring devices track defendants' movements 24 hours a day, requiring regular charging and creating employment challenges for those in jobs requiring travel or physical activity.
"GPS monitoring requirements have fundamentally changed the pre-trial experience for DUI defendants in Colorado," stated Emilio De Simone, lead attorney at DUI Law Firm Denver. "Defendants must navigate technical compliance issues, false alerts, and the stigma of visible monitoring devices while maintaining employment and family obligations."
The Colorado Judicial Branch reports that GPS monitoring orders in DUI cases have increased by 45 percent since 2023, with Denver County leading implementation across the state. The monitoring systems alert authorities to any violations of court-ordered restrictions, including curfews, exclusion zones around bars and liquor stores, and proximity to victims in cases involving accidents.
DUI Attorneys at DUI Law Firm Denver have documented numerous cases where GPS monitoring malfunctions led to false violation reports, resulting in defendants being returned to custody despite compliance with court orders. Technical issues include dead zones causing signal loss, battery failures triggering alerts, and software glitches incorrectly showing defendants outside permitted areas.
The financial impact extends beyond monthly monitoring fees. Defendants must often pay installation fees of $50 to $100, daily monitoring charges of $10 to $15, and equipment damage deposits up to $1,500. These costs are typically non-refundable, even when charges are dismissed or defendants are acquitted at trial.
Employment complications arise frequently with GPS monitoring requirements. Healthcare workers report difficulty maintaining sterile environments with ankle monitors, construction workers face safety hazards from devices catching on equipment, and service industry employees experience customer complaints about visible monitoring devices. Several defendants have reported job loss directly attributed to GPS monitoring requirements.
Privacy concerns have also emerged as GPS data collected during monitoring can be subpoenaed for use in prosecution. The devices record location data every minute, creating detailed movement patterns that prosecutors may use to establish patterns of behavior or challenge defendant testimony about their activities.
Legal challenges to GPS monitoring requirements have had mixed results in Colorado courts. While some judges have ruled that monitoring conditions must be reasonably related to public safety and defendant supervision needs, others have upheld broad monitoring requirements as within judicial discretion for pre-trial release conditions.
The Colorado Criminal Defense Bar has raised concerns about the disproportionate impact of GPS monitoring on indigent defendants who cannot afford monthly fees. Some defendants have chosen to remain in custody rather than accept release with monitoring requirements they cannot afford, effectively creating a two-tiered justice system based on economic resources.
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DUI Law Firm Denver specializes in defending individuals charged with DUI, DWAI, and related offenses throughout Colorado. The firm's attorneys focus on challenging excessive monitoring requirements, negotiating alternative supervision conditions, and protecting defendants' rights throughout legal proceedings.
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For more information about DUI Law Firm Denver, contact the company here:
DUI Law Firm Denver
Emilio De Simone
303‑404‑7492
info@duilawfirmdenver.com
1890 N Gaylord Street
Denver, CO 80206