Approved Routes and Hours for Colorado Work-Only Restricted Licenses

Colorado restricted licenses approve routes for employment, medical treatment, alcohol or drug education programs, community service ordered by the court, and childcare transport when you are the primary caregiver. Employment routes require a notarized letter from your employer on company letterhead stating your work address, shift hours, and days worked per week. The letter must include a supervisor's direct contact number the DMV can verify. Medical routes require a letter from your healthcare provider documenting ongoing treatment necessity, facility address, and appointment frequency. One-time appointments do not qualify. Childcare routes require proof you are the primary caregiver — court custody orders, school enrollment showing your address, or affidavits from the other parent. The state does not approve routes for dropping off a friend's child or alternating custody schedules. Community service and alcohol education routes are approved automatically when tied to your court order or DMV-mandated program. You submit the program address and required attendance schedule as part of your restricted license application. Court-ordered probation check-ins qualify; voluntary counseling does not.

Colorado approves hour windows tied directly to your documented work schedule plus reasonable commute time. If your employer letter states you work Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, your approved driving window is typically 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on those days only. The one-hour buffer each direction covers normal traffic variability but does not permit side trips. If you work rotating shifts or irregular hours, you must submit a detailed weekly schedule from your employer and update it every time your shifts change. Some counties require a new approval filing for schedule changes; others allow written notice to the DMV with employer confirmation. Weekend work requires separate approval with employer documentation showing the weekend schedule is permanent, not occasional. Medical and childcare hours are approved as specific time blocks tied to appointment letters or daycare operating schedules. If your daycare operates 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and you drop off at 7:30 AM, your approved morning window is 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Evening pickup gets a similar narrow window. The state does not approve all-day windows for purposes you only use at specific times.

A single trip outside your approved routes or hours is prosecuted as driving under restraint in Colorado, a class 2 misdemeanor. Conviction carries 10 days to 1 year in county jail, a $500-$1,000 fine, and immediate revocation of your restricted license. Your underlying suspension period restarts from the revocation date, and you lose eligibility to reapply for a restricted license for the remainder of your original suspension. Law enforcement verifies your restricted license terms during any traffic stop by checking the endorsement attached to your license or calling the DMV. If you are stopped outside approved hours, even if you are on an approved route, you are cited for driving under restraint. If you are stopped on an unapproved route during approved hours, the outcome is identical. The most common violations are early departures for traffic, stops for fuel at unapproved stations, and detours to drop off passengers. Colorado does not recognize good-faith exceptions. Your employer firing you does not extend your work-route approval; you must notify the DMV within 3 days and apply for route modification or surrender the restricted license until new employment is documented.

You apply for a restricted license through the Colorado DMV after serving any mandatory suspension waiting period. DUI suspensions typically require 30 days before restricted license eligibility; revocations for multiple violations often require 60-90 days. You submit a completed DR 2870 form, proof of SR-22 insurance filing, employer documentation on letterhead with notarized signature, medical or childcare documentation if applicable, and a $95 reinstatement fee. Your application must include a route map for each approved purpose. Some counties accept hand-drawn maps with street names and addresses; others require printed maps from Google Maps or MapQuest with highlighted routes. Each route requires a start address, end address, and estimated drive time. If you submit multiple routes, you must specify which days and hours each route is used. The DMV processes restricted license applications in 7-14 business days if all documentation is complete. Incomplete applications are returned without review. Once approved, your restricted license is mailed with an endorsement listing each approved route, approved hours, and any special conditions like ignition interlock device requirement. You must carry this endorsement with your license at all times while driving.

Colorado requires SR-22 insurance filing for all restricted licenses issued after DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, reckless driving, or accumulation of 12+ points in 12 months. The SR-22 is a liability insurance endorsement your carrier files directly with the Colorado DMV proving you carry minimum liability coverage of 25/50/15: $25,000 per person for injury, $50,000 per accident for injury, and $15,000 for property damage. Your SR-22 filing must remain active for the entire duration of your restricted license plus any additional filing period ordered by the court or DMV. DUI offenders typically file SR-22 for 3 years from conviction date. If your SR-22 lapses even one day due to non-payment or policy cancellation, the DMV is notified within 24 hours, your restricted license is immediately suspended, and your underlying suspension period restarts. Not all carriers write SR-22 policies for restricted license holders. Non-standard carriers like The General, Dairyland, Direct Auto, Bristol West, and GAINSCO specialize in high-risk SR-22 filings. Monthly SR-22 premiums for restricted license drivers in Colorado typically range from $110 to $240 depending on your violation history, age, and coverage limits. The SR-22 filing fee itself is $15-$25, paid once at policy inception.

Colorado allows route and hour modifications if your employment, medical treatment, or childcare situation changes, but you must apply for modification approval before driving on new routes or during new hours. You submit a DR 2870A modification form, updated employer or provider documentation, new route maps, and a $25 modification fee. The DMV processes modifications in 5-10 business days. If you change jobs, you cannot drive to your new employer until the DMV approves your new work route. Driving to a new job on your old restricted license is prosecuted as driving under restraint. If your work schedule changes, you must submit an updated employer letter and wait for approval before driving during new hours. Some counties allow emergency modifications for documented medical emergencies or sudden childcare changes, processed within 24-48 hours if you submit proof of the emergency. Routine schedule changes do not qualify. Most restricted license holders apply for modifications 2-3 times during their suspension period due to job changes, shift changes, or childcare provider changes.