Gov. Hickenlooper signs bill making 4th DUI felony

Habitual DUI offenders will soon face tougher penalties in Colorado.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill into law on Monday that makes a fourth DUI a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of as much as $500,000. The law takes effect Aug. 5.

Colorado has been among five states where habitual drunken drivers face only misdemeanor charges punishable by up to a year in jail regardless of how many convictions they have.

The proposal has repeatedly failed in recent years because of concerns about increased costs to courts and prisons but lawmakers were able to pass it last month.

The bill signing ceremony was held at a manufacturer of professional breath alcohol testers, Lifeloc Technologies, in Wheat Ridge.