New Year’s Resolution — No DUIs
STATEWIDE — Whether your New Year’s resolution is to be less stressed, save money or spend more time with family, a New Year’s DUI could ruin your plans. Aiming to keep Coloradans safe as they celebrate the new year, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is teaming up with 74 Colorado State Patrol (CSP) troops and local law enforcement agencies for 2015’s final The Heat Is On DUI enforcement period, running from Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 until Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
CDOT is partnering with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and MillerCoors to offer free rides on all RTD bus, mall and rail routes starting 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 through 11:59 p.m.,Jan. 1, 2016. For detailed route and schedule information, call 1-800-FREE-RIDES (1-800-373-3743), text "RIDE" to 90464 or visitCoorsLightFreeRides.com.
At least two Colorado law firms are offering taxi fare reimbursement for New Year’s Eve. More information is available at http://www.sawayalaw.com/Free-
“DUI’s are completely preventable and no one should have to deal with losing a loved one entering the New Year. With the increase in rideshare services and alternative transportation options, there really is no excuse for a DUI,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “Many of these programs even offer special promotions on New Year’s to help get you home safely.”
During last year’s New Year’s DUI enforcement, 329 drivers were arrested for DUI, with Colorado State Patrol (50), Aurora Police Department (49), Denver Police (47) and Colorado Springs Police Department (32) tallying the most arrests.
“You can rest assured that all Colorado law enforcement agencies will be highly visible on New Years with increased DUI patrols. We will be arresting and citing those who make the poor choice to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “We’ll be plenty busy, so we’re asking Coloradans to help prevent their friends and family members from driving impaired.”
If you’re hosting a party or other New Year’s gathering, consider these tips to help prevent impaired driving:
- Have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages available
- Stop serving alcohol at least an hour before the end of the party
- Use smaller serving cups to keep alcoholic beverages to the appropriate size
- Plan activities and games that do not involve alcohol to reduce consumption
- Don’t be afraid to take someone’s keys if they’ve had to much to drink
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.
