Fall Festivals DUI Enforcement Begins Tomorrow
STATEWIDE — Starting tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 16, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and law enforcement agencies from across Colorado are combining efforts for The Heat Is On campaign’s Fall Festivals DUI enforcement. Last year, 1,486 impaired drivers were arrested over the five-week enforcement period. The increased DUI enforcement runs through Oct. 24 with additional patrols, checkpoints and extra officers on duty looking for impaired drivers.
According to preliminary data, as of yesterday Sept. 14, there have been 133 impairment traffic fatalities so far in 2016, accounting for 31 percent of the 410 total traffic fatalities.
“It’s heartbreaking to see people continue to drive impaired with plenty of resources and alternative modes of transportation available,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “CDOT encourages making a travel plan for a sober ride both to and from your destination, leaving no chance to drive impaired.”
To date, 83 agencies will be participating in the enforcement period.
“The Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies have zero tolerance for impaired drivers,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Preventing friends and family from driving impaired could save their lives, or the lives of other drivers and pedestrians on Colorado’s roads. One impaired driver can drastically change the lives of many people.”
CDOT’s newly enhanced “R-U-Buzzed” smartphone app is a resource to help avoid driving impaired. R-U-Buzzed is a blood-alcohol content (BAC) calculator that provides direct access to ride-hailing services. The app works by estimating individual BAC levels based data entered by the user — weight, gender, time drinking and alcohol consumed. The app features a one-screen interface that allows users to immediately update or begin a new reading. Finally, the app calculates the BAC level and shares safety information about impairment and Colorado’s laws.
On iPhone and Android smartphones, download the R-U-Buzzed app here: onelink.to/r-u-buzzed
To access CDOT’s The Heat Is On arrest database visit bit.ly/HIOarrests. Arrest data can be sorted by law enforcement agency, county and enforcement period.
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.
