Colorado Code § 44-3-902

Testing for intoxication by law enforcement officers - when prohibited
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(1) No person who is patronizing a licensed premises as defined in sections 44-3-103 (24) and
44-4-103 (3) shall be required or solicited by any law enforcement officer to submit to any
mechanical test for the purpose of determining the alcohol content of the person's blood or breath
while he or she is upon the licensed premises except to determine if there is a violation of section
42-4-1301 by a driver of a motor vehicle, unless the law enforcement officer is acting pursuant
to a court order obtained in the manner described in subsection (2) of this section. No such test
may be performed upon any licensed premises to obtain evidence of alleged intoxication, except
pursuant to a court order as provided in this section or in case of a medical emergency,
regardless of whether the alleged intoxication is a violation of any provision of this article 3.
(2) An ex parte order to permit any law enforcement officer to solicit any person who is
patronizing a licensed premises, as defined in sections 44-3-103 (24) and 44-4-103 (3), to submit
to any mechanical test for the purpose of determining the alcohol content of the person's blood or
breath while he or she is upon such licensed premises may be issued by any judge of competent
jurisdiction in the state of Colorado, including a district, county, or municipal court judge, upon
application of a district attorney or a law enforcement agency showing probable cause to believe
that evidence will be obtained of the commission of the crime of providing any alcohol beverage
to a visibly intoxicated person or minor in violation of section 44-3-901 (1)(a) or (6)(a)(I).
(3) Each application for an ex parte order as described in subsection (2) of this section
shall be made in writing upon oath or affirmation to a judge of competent jurisdiction, including
a district, county, or municipal court judge, and shall state the applicant's authority to make the
application. Each application shall include the following information:
(a) The identity of the investigative or law enforcement officer making the application,
and the officer authorizing the application;
(b) A complete statement of the facts and circumstances relied upon by the applicant to
justify his or her belief that an order should be issued, which shall include, but not be limited to:
(I) A sufficient description of the licensed premises that is proposed to be the subject of
the court order;
(II) Evidence that shows probable cause to believe that there have been frequent and
continuing violations of section 44-3-901 (1)(a) or (6)(a)(I) regarding the crime of providing any
alcohol beverage to a visibly intoxicated person or minor; and
(III) A complete statement as to whether or not other investigative procedures have been
tried and failed, or why other investigative procedures reasonably appear to be impractical for
economic or other reasons or unlikely to succeed if tried.
(4) Upon an application being made in accordance with subsection (3) of this section, the
judge may enter an ex parte order, as requested or as modified, authorizing or approving testing
as described in subsection (2) of this section in a particular licensed premises located within the
territorial jurisdiction of the court in which the judge is sitting, and within the jurisdiction of the
district attorney or law enforcement agency making the request, if the judge determines on the
basis of the facts submitted by the applicant that:
(a) There is probable cause to believe that there have been frequent and continuing
violations of section 44-3-901 (1)(a) or (6)(a)(I) regarding the crime of providing an alcohol
beverage to a visibly intoxicated person or minor; and
(b) Normal investigative procedures have been tried and failed, or reasonably appear
impractical for economic or other reasons or unlikely to succeed if tried.
(5) Any order issued pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the application for such
order, and any information or evidence submitted to the court in support of such order, shall not
be disclosed to any person other than the law enforcement officer or agency that applied for the
order until the order has been executed at the licensed premises to which the order applies.
(6) Any evidence obtained through any violation of this section shall not be admissible
in any court of this state or in any administrative proceeding in this state.

‹ Prev All Colorado sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.