Super Bowl Weekend DUI Enforcement Catches 234 Drivers Offside

STATEWIDE – While the Seahawks failed to be back-to-back Super Bowl champions against the Patriots, statewide law enforcement agencies did repeat a successful weekend of increased DUI enforcement. Aiming to keep Colorado’s roads safe during Super Bowl celebrations, the increased DUI enforcement period ran from 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, to 3 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, and saw a weekend total of 234 DUI arrests.

“The Super Bowl is a great reason to gather with friends and family to celebrate, but there are no good reasons to drive impaired,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Regrettably, some party goers acted irresponsibly by getting behind the wheel while being impaired, putting everyone on the road and themselves at risk.”

With 71 agencies reporting, law enforcement agencies across the state joined forces to arrest 234 drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; 65 of those arrests took place on Super Bowl Sunday. The highest number of arrests were made by the following agencies: Denver Police (36), Aurora Police (24), Colorado Springs Police (24), and Colorado State Patrol (20). The numbers are down when compared to 2014 when 327 arrests were made.

“Throughout the year there are many holidays and events that are major celebrations –- the Super Bowl is just one of those,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety. “A DUI for those 234 people is an unfortunate way to end the football season.”

Coloradans can expect even tougher enforcement during the next enforcement period over St. Patrick’s Day weekend that runs from Friday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 17. CDOT and CSP will be working together on the education and enforcement leading up to this holiday weekend. 

The Heat Is On campaign runs throughout the year with 12 specific high visibility impaired driving enforcement periods centered on national holidays and large public events. Enforcement periods can include sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. More details about the campaign, including impaired driving enforcement plans, arrest totals and safety tips can be found at HeatIsOnColorado.com.