Holiday Party DUI Enforcement Cites 596 Impaired Drivers

STATEWIDE — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies successfully completed holiday party DUI enforcement under The Heat Is On campaign, resulting in 596 drivers arrested for impaired driving. The Holiday Party DUI enforcement period began on Friday, Dec. 4 and concluded on Monday, Dec. 14.  91 CSP troops and local law enforcement agencies participated in the crackdown.

“The collaboration between law enforcement agencies removes impaired drivers from Colorado’s roads and keeps our neighborhoods safe,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. "There is no excuse to drive while impaired with so many safe alternatives available." The Colorado State Patrol arrested 96 drivers for DUI during the period, joining their partners at the Denver Police Department, which had 70 arrests and the Aurora Police Department, which had 51 arrests. Other partners with large arrest numbers were the Colorado Springs Police Department (27), the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (24), and the Aurora Police Department (51).   

A recent study by Responsibility.org indicates that 57 percent of Denver adults do not know the legal driving limit of .08 for a DUI. Drivers can also be cited for a Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) with a BAC of .05, but the study did not look at the understanding of that limit. There are signs of encouragement — the study also shows 64 percent of Denver respondents have stopped someone from driving drunk before, while 87 percent feel confident intervening before someone drives drunk — both results are the highest marks in the nation.

“We’re delighted that Denver residents are looking out for their communities and proactively trying to keep their peers off the roads after consuming alcohol,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “However, we still have work to do — alarmingly, fewer than half of Denver residents are aware of the DUI limit. If you plan on drinking during the holidays, don’t chance a DUI. Designate a driver, or take advantage of alternative transportation options.”

Coloradans can download CDOT’s R U Buzzed app which estimates a user’s BAC based on their gender, weight, hours drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed. While the results aren’t accurate enough to stand as legal evidence, the app is intended to aid in making responsible decisions — the app will also help users hail a taxi to get home safe.

The Heat Is On campaign continues with heightened New Year’s Eve DUI enforcement beginning Wednesday, Dec. 30, through Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.

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.