Many (but not all) cities and counties will offer to reduce the points on your traffic ticket if you complete a defensive driving school course. Drivers with several recent traffic violations (especially younger drivers) may be required to take an advanced course in order to get any plea bargain at all.
In order to get a more favorable plea bargain, or to avoid a points suspension of your license, you should consider taking a defensive driving class before you go to court. Kurtz & Peckham recommends this for many clients who are in jeopardy of losing their license, especially drivers under age 21. Below is a list of approved agencies that provide these classes.
If you do accept a plea bargain with classes as a condition, be aware of the following:
It is your responsibility to contact the defensive driving school immediately after court to ensure your reservation in the course.
Once you complete the course, you will be issued a certificate by the school.
You are responsible for returning your Certificate of Completion to the court and to pay any and all fine on or before your court date.
If you do not take the class, a warrant for your arrest could be issued, the original charge may go on your record, and your license could be suspended.
Court-Approved Driving Schools
Alive @ 25 (Colorado State Patrol)
55 Wadsworth Blvd
Lakewood, CO 80226
(720) 269-4046
Alive @ 25 English 4 hours $50.00
Approved for ages 15-24
A.A.R.P. Driver Safety Program
P.O. Box 1168
Arvada, CO 80001
(303) 764-5995 or 1 (800) 253-2017
Alive @ 55 English 8 hours $10.00
Ages 55 and older
Defensive Driving School
I.S.A.E. Court-related Education Programs
2480 W. 26th Avenue #80-B
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-1900
Level I English 8 hours $60.00
Mutual Driving School
I-25 at Hampden & Monaco
Denver, CO 80222
(303) 783-0711
Level I English 6 hours $55.00
Level II English 12 hours $85.00
National Corrective Training Institute (N.C.T.I.)
2727 Bryan Street
Denver, CO 80221
(303) 455-3553
Level I English/Spanish 8 hours $65.00
Level II English 12 hours $120.00
Level III English 16 hours $160.00