Warning to Colorado Drivers: Drive Sober or Face a DUI Arrest Labor Day Weekend

August 30, 2012 - Traffic Safety - Cops make an average of 50 DUI arrests per day since National Crackdown began Aug. 17.

Denver – As Coloradans prepare to head out on the roads this Labor Day Weekend, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and statewide law enforcement agencies have a warning: Don’t even think about drinking and driving because DUI patrols will be out in force.

Sobriety checkpoints and increased DUI patrols are under way across the state through early Tuesday morning.  The enforcement is part of the summer-long “100 Days of Heat” campaign and coincides with the National DUI Crackdown.  Since Colorado joined the national effort on Aug. 17th, law enforcement officers have averaged over 50 DUI arrests per day.  That number is expected to go way up because only half of the 110 participating agencies have reported their arrests so far, according to CDOT. During last year’s national DUI crackdown, police made 1,442 DUI arrests.

“There’s no day off this Labor Day weekend for hundreds of troopers, police officers and deputies who will be working tirelessly to keep impaired drivers off our roadways,” said Colonel James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.  “Now is the time to make a plan for a designated driver or public transportation.  There are many big events across Colorado this weekend, from the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, to the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio, and the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.  No matter where you are in the state, please take the time to designate a sober driver and don’t forget to buckle up.”

Here are “DUI Arrests By the Numbers”: Since the “100 Days of Heat” campaign began Memorial Weekend, Colorado law enforcement agencies have made 2,097 DUI arrests in Colorado during enforcement periods and at checkpoints.  According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s annual crime report, 26,146 adults and juveniles were arrested for DUI in 2011, making it an average of 72 DUI arrests per day in the state.

In addition to increased patrols and saturation patrols, the following agencies are conducting sobriety checkpoints:

Friday, Aug 31

  • Lakewood Police Department and Colorado State Patrol
  • Colorado State Patrol – Troop 4A Fruita

 

Saturday, Sept 1

  • Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office & CSP Troop 6A Golden
  • Thornton Police Department (This checkpoint will be dedicated to the memory of fallen Englewood PD Officer Jeremy Bitner)
  • Weld County DUI Task Force (Weld County SO, Ault PD, CSP Troop 3A, Greeley PD, Frederick PD)
  • Gore Range DUI Task Force (Eagle County SO, Avon PD, CSP Troop 4C, Glenwood Springs PD, Vail PD)

 

Sunday, Sept 2

Adams County Sheriff’s Office

More details about the DUI enforcement plans by agency, as well as arrest results after the enforcement period can be found at www.HeatIsOnColorado.com.