274 Arrested for DUI over Super Bowl Weekend

Denver – Super Bowl weekend DUI arrest numbers are down for the second year in a row, and according to preliminary reports there were no alcohol-related fatalities in the state during the enforcement period, which ran from Friday, Feb. 3 to Monday, Feb. 6th. CDOT and CSP officials say the decline in arrests may be attributed to the snow storm on Feb. 3rd with more people deciding to stay home to celebrate the big game.

More than 66 law enforcement agencies across the state arrested 274 drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; 125 of those arrests took place on Super Bowl Sunday. The highest number of arrests over the three day enforcement period took place in Denver (33), Colorado Springs (26) and Aurora (21). The numbers are down considerably when compared with 2010 when 371 arrests were made. There were 303 DUI arrests during the 2011 Super Bowl enforcement period.

“The numbers were down overall, but we still saw the biggest number of arrests on Super Bowl Sunday,” said Colonel James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Even though we urged people to plan ahead, at least 274 drivers still didn’t get the message. Now they are facing fines and costs totaling $10,270. It’s time people start listening. Drinking and driving is against the law, it endangers lives and if you do it you will get caught.”

With St. Patrick’s Day on a Saturday this year, expect even tougher DUI enforcement. The ‘Heat Is On DUI’ crackdown heats up again Friday, March 16 through Monday, March 19.