Labor Day DUI Enforcement Period Begins Today
STATEWIDE — Beginning today, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local agencies are stepping up education and enforcement for the 2015 Labor Day DUI enforcement period. The enforcement period, part of CDOT’s The Heat Is On campaign, runs from Friday, August 21, through Tuesday, September 8.
In conjunction with the Labor Day enforcement period, CDOT is launching a DUI education campaign focused on those that think they’re OK to drive after having a few drinks. To download the commercials and other campaign creative, visit: bit.ly/cdot2015dui. Or the commercials are on YouTube at:
“A Few Can Still Be Dangerous” uses humor to remind drivers that even after only having a few, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive. The campaign features two 30-second commercials showing dangerous scenarios in which people ignore the hazards around them, such as tarantulas on the loose or children playing with chainsaws. The commercials remind viewers that even a few of some things can be dangerous, especially when it comes to alcoholic drinks. Airing on cable TV and online pre-roll throughout the state, the commercials are supported by statewide radio spots and bar posters, as well as out-of-home creative in the Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins metro areas.
“With the availability of cabs and ride-hailing apps like Lyft and Uber, most people know how to get home safely after drinking,” said Sam Cole, Safety Communications Manager at CDOT. “Unfortunately some people will go out for a few drinks and not recognize they are above the legal limit to drive; so this campaign targets those that think they’re ok after only a few.”
In 2014, the Labor Day DUI enforcement resulted in 1,102 statewide arrests from 95 participating law enforcement agencies, and last year there were 165 DUI related fatalities, according to preliminary data.
While most people are familiar with the 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit, Colorado also has a 0.05 BAC level that triggers a Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) offense. “Our goal is to keep the roads safe, no matter the time of year,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Even though the summer-long Checkpoint Colorado DUI patrols are winding down, the Labor Day enforcement is a reminder to motorists statewide that we will remain vigilant in our efforts to arrest impaired drivers.”
The CDOT Highway Safety Office provides funding to Colorado law enforcement for impaired driving enforcement, education and awareness campaigns.
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.
