Municipal Violations in Colorado may, at first glance, not appear as serious as state-level misdemeanors and felonies. However, many Municipal Courts prosecute criminal offenses that can be punished in the same manner as misdemeanor convictions. This includes jail time, probation, domestic violence evaluations and treatment, etc. One should not make the mistake of taking charges in municipal lightly.
At JWP Law, our municipal violation defense attorney will help you with either a civil or criminal municipal offense. We know and have seen how these seemingly less serious violations can cause real problems for people. To make sure you understand the seriousness of your case, and do everything possible to fight it or mitigate the consequences, call us at 720-329-4149 to schedule a Free Consultation.
Municipal Offenses in Colorado
Most, if not all, cities in Colorado have a municipal court that oversees violations of city ordinances. Many prosecute minor city ordinance crimes and traffic cases, but several prosecute crimes as serious as domestic assault. Pending the level of offense levied against you, you may find yourself in Municipal Court in Lone Tree, Denver, Castle Pines, Aurora, Lakewood, Castle Rock, Arvada, Littleton, Parker, Thornton, Commerce City, Boulder, Longmont, Glendale, Superior, or Louisville to name a few.
Municipal Offense Classification in Colorado
Municipal offenses can be civil (often referred to as infractions) or criminal. Each municipality identifies specific offenses and categorizes them accordingly. Civil offenses are ones punishable by fines. Criminal offenses are punished according to the municipal code of the specific city, but most all have the possibility of jail time as a sentence.
Municipal Courts
Municipal Violations are not prosecuted by the District Attorney of the County in which you are located. Instead, the City Attorney, or a practicing attorney/Firm hired on contract, prosecutes municipal violations. The prosecution is skilled and knows the rules of evidence, what can and cannot be proven, and what an appropriate plea deal may be. If you aren't educated in criminal law, it's not a fair fight without defense counsel to represent you.
Municipal courts commonly have different procedures and policies than state courts and it's important to have an experienced legal advocate to help you protect your rights. For example, many municipal courts require a $25 jury fee and written jury demand filed with the clerk in a short amount of time to preserve your right to a jury trial. Those who do not complete those procedures within the allotted time are only afforded a trial to the court, or judge.
While municipal courts may have differing procedures than state courts, most all do still prosecute criminal offenses. This means that you have the possibility of jail time as part of any sentence in your case. Municipal Courts commonly handle charges such as:
- Theft
- Assault
- Damage to Public or Private Property
- Animal Abuse or Neglect
- Trespass
- Disturbing the Peace
- Juvenile Violations
- Traffic Infractions
- Disorderly Conduct
- Wrongs to Minors
And any other offense against which the municipality has chosen to enact an ordinance.
Three Reasons to Fight Municipal Offenses
Whether a municipal offense is minor or major, civil or criminal, you want to fight it. Here are three good reasons why that's the case.
- Clean record. If you pay the fine, plead guilty, or ignore a municipal offense, you will almost certainly end up with a mark on your criminal record. Even the smallest of infraction can cause collateral consequences to your employability, ability to lease property.
- Limited resources. Unlike District Attorneys who wield seemingly limitless power in their prosecutions, many City Attorneys are not similarly equipped. That is not to say that City Attorneys cannot prosecute all the cases in their courts, but a strong defense may be able to yield results quicker than in state court.
- Increase options. Having an experienced defense attorney on your side will allow you to explore all your options in municipal court without jeopardizing your case. Representing yourself necessarily requires you to speak with the prosecution. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in future proceedings. Your attorney, however, can negotiate a case from all angles without the prosecution being able to use disclosed information against you.
Contact a Municipal Defense Attorney in Colorado Today
Walker has been practicing in municipal courts since working as a Denver Municipal Public Defender. With a solid understanding of the course of prosecutions in these matters, Walker has secured countless dismissals and beneficial plea deals for his clients. Walker is also keenly aware of client costs in these matters and strives to make his representation affordable for those facing criminal offenses not prosecuted in state courts.
Call JWP Law at 720-329-4149 to schedule a Free Consultation with Walker Pritchard today.