CDOT Prepares for Labor Day with Heightened DUI Enforcement
As summer winds down, law enforcement agencies across the state prepare to crack down on impaired driving during the weeks leading up to Labor Day and during the holiday weekend. TheColorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law agencies are teaming up as part of The Heat Is On campaign to conduct a nearly three-week DUI enforcement period beginning Aug. 17 through Sept. 4.
The annual Labor Day DUI crackdown will include 87 law enforcement agencies from all over Colorado. Last year’s Labor Day enforcement cited 1,184 impaired drivers. There were 46 roadway fatalities involving impaired drivers between August and September in 2017, which was an increase from 36 fatalities the year before.
“Last year, we had an increase in alcohol-related fatalities compared to 2016,” said Darrell Lingk, director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “Even as summer is coming to an end, Coloradans need to be responsible and stay off the roads if they are impaired. The price of a DUI is never worth the risk.”
CDOT has partnered with BACtrack, a leading personal and professional breathalyzer company, to urge Coloradans to check their blood-alcohol content (BAC) to confirm they are sober before they drive. CDOT is demonstrating the breathalyzers at public events and bars throughout the summer, including a partnership with Geeks Who Drink to promote breathalyzers at local trivia nights with custom trivia rounds and sponsored promotion at bars throughout Colorado.
As part of this campaign, BACtrack is offering Colorado residents a $50 discount on breathalyzers, which normally retail for $99. Visit codot.bactrack.com to purchase a discounted breathalyzer for a limited time. To date, the campaign has helped sell more than 1,000 discounted breathalyzers.
To demonstrate how breathalyzers can be used in any situation involving alcohol, CDOT hosted a beer-yoga class as part of a promotional video to announce the Colorado-exclusive breathalyzer discount. Participants learned how to properly use the breathalyzers and the importance of checking their BACs before choosing to drive. View photos and videos of the event here: bit.ly/CDOT2018Breathalyzers
CDOT’s partnership with BACtrack is the first of its kind in the country between a breathalyzer company and state department of transportation. This program is also supported by the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. The Foundation brings more than 25 years of leadership in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking. Check out the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s Virtual Bar, which uses the latest science to help learn a better understanding of how different factors affect your BAC on an individual level.
"Impaired driving is dangerous for everyone on the roads, not just the impaired driver," said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the CSP. “Let’s keep our roads safe this Labor Day. Make sure you find a sober ride home before you think about getting behind the wheel.”
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 14 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.
