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Governor Ritter Signs Drug Bills, Payday Lending Measure

Wednesday, May 26 2010

KKTV CBS 11
Associated Press
May 25th, 2010

New drug penalties and a crackdown on payday lending are among the bills signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Bill Ritter.

Among the bills signed into law are measures to reduce penalties for some drug possession crimes and put more emphasis on drug treatment. Not all drugs will see reduced penalties.

 Ritter also signed a measure limiting payday loan interest rates to 45 percent annually. Currently they can run as high as 300 percent a year.

Another measure signed into law by Gov. Ritter increases the penalties for repeat DUI offenders. It raises the amount of mandatory jail time repeat offenders must serve, as well as increasing the fines. After two or more offenses, the offender would also have to serve two years probation, in which they would have to complete a drug or alcohol abuse treatment program.

Supporters of the measure say the bill helps crack down on the crime, while also giving offenders a better chance to avoid repeating the same offense.

The bill was co-sponsored by State Senator John Morse of Colorado Springs.