Record Number of Colorado Law Enforcement Agencies plan St. Patrick's Weekend DUI Crackdown
The official Heat Is On crackdown begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 16 and continues through 3 a.m. on Monday, March 19.
Safety officials are very concerned about the increasing number of impaired drivers arrested each year over the traditional beer-drinking holiday, and they are especially worried since St Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year. The last time St. Patrick’s Day was on Saturday was in 2007, when 363 drivers were arrested for DUI statewide. Since then, there’s been a 48% increase in DUI arrests over St. Patrick’s enforcement periods, with a record 704 arrests in 2011. Two people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in Colorado over the St Patrick’s Day weekend last year, according to preliminary data.
“It is alarming that so many people are risking their lives and their future over a few green beers when it absolutely isn’t necessary,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It’s time right now to plan ahead if you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol. There’s no excuse not to have a designated driver or sober transportation lined up before you ever drink that first pint. For those who don’t plan ahead, we’ll be ready for you.”
The Denver Police Department will also join agencies across the state with additional officers dedicated to DUI patrols throughout the weekend. Denver PD’s plans include additional officers at the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday to support parade participants and ensure spectators have a fun and safe time.
“We will have officers designated to the parade route and the downtown area to monitor traffic and provide a safe environment free from the dangers of impaired driving,” said Capt. Joseph Padilla, Denver Police Department. “We’d like to remind everyone to take safeguards against drinking and driving by taking public transportation or have a designated driver. The cost of a bus ticket or cab fare is $10,000 cheaper than the cost of a DUI.”
Safety officials also want to remind basketball fans of their responsibility as well. “It’s an exciting time in Colorado with both CU and CSU in the NCAA tournament this week, but it’s important to make the right call by getting a sober ride home if you’re drinking while watching the games,” said Darrell Lingk, director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “Remember that no matter what team you root for -- fans don’t let fans drive drunk.”
The Colorado State Patrol and the following police and sheriffs’ departments have increased patrols and saturations patrols planned:
Adams County SO
Alamosa County SO
Alamosa PD
Arapahoe County SO
Arvada PD
Aspen PD
Ault PD
Auraria Campus PD
Aurora PD
Baca County SO
Basalt PD
Bayfield Marshalls Office
Boulder County SO
Breckenridge PD
Brighton PD
Broomfield PD
Calhan PD
Castle Rock PD
Colorado Springs PD
CSP Troop 1A Limon
CSP Troop 1C Castle Rock
CSP Troop 1D Adams Co.
CSP Troop 2A Canon City
CSP Troop 2B Colo. Spgs.
CSP Troop 2C Lamar
CSP Troop 2D Pueblo
CSP Troop 2E Gaming
CSP Troop 3A Greeley
CSP Troop 3B Sterling
CSP Troop 3C Fort Collins
CSP Troop 4A Fruita
CSP Troop 4B Craig
CSP Troop 4C Glenwood
CSP Troop 5A Durango
CSP Troop 5B Alamosa
CSP Troop 5C Montrose
CSP Troop 6A Golden
CSP Troop 6B Frisco
CSP Troop 6C Broomfield
Colorado State Univ. PD
Commerce City PD
Cortez PD
Craig PD
Crested Butte MO
Dacono PD
Denver PD
Dillon PD
Douglas County SO
Durango PD
Eagle County SO
Edgewater PD
El Paso County SO
Englewood PD
Erie PD
Estes Park PD
Evans PD
Firestone PD
Fort Collins PD
Fort Lupton PD
Fort Morgan PD
Fountain PD
Fraser/Winter Park PD
Frederick PD
Fremont County SO
Frisco PD
Garfield County SO
Gilpin County SO
Glenwood Springs PD
Golden PD
Grand Junction PD
Green Mountain Falls PD
Greenwood Village PD
Haxtun PD
Idaho Springs PD
Jefferson County SO
Johnstown PD
Kiowa County SO
Lafayette PD
Lakewood PD
Lamar PD
Larimer County SO
Littleton PD
Logan County SO
Lone Tree PD
Longmont PD
Loveland PD
Manitou Springs PD
Manzanola PD
Mesa County SO
Minturn PD
Monte Vista PD
Montezuma County SO
Montrose PD
Morgan County SO
Northglenn PD
Pagosa Springs PD
Park County SO
Parker PD
Pitkin County SO
Pueblo County SO
Pueblo PD
Rifle PD
Silverthorne PD
Snowmass Village PD
Steamboat Springs PD
Sterling PD
Summit County SO
Thornton PD
Walsenburg PD
Washington County SO
Weld County SO
Westminster PD
Wheat Ridge PD
Woodland Park PD
To view agency DUI enforcement plans visit www.HeatIsOnColorado.com and choose “Heat Is On Enforcement Plans” on the quick links.
