House Bill 17-1277 Summary

• Authorizes the Colorado Department of Revenue to suspend a driver's license for one year if the driver left the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury or death, based on preponderance of evidence standard.

• Establishes administrative procedures requiring law enforcement officers to submit sworn affidavits to the Department; provides a seven-day window for license suspension to take effect and for drivers to request a hearing.

• Grants drivers the right to a hearing before an impartial officer within 60 days; the hearing officer may only determine whether the driver violated the hit-and-run statute, and may issue a probationary license for employment, education, health, or other necessities.

• Allows drivers to appeal the Department's final determination to district court within 35 days; judicial review is based on the record and may reverse the determination if arbitrary, capricious, or unsupported by evidence.

• Effective date is January 1, 2018; any revocation under existing law runs concurrently with suspensions imposed under this new statute for the same incident.