CDOT begins DUI-enforcement periods for 2020

It’s a new year, a new decade, and a new set of The Heat Is On DUI enforcement periods for Colorado impaired drivers. In coordination with Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and statewide law agencies, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will boost DUI enforcement with increased officers on duty to crack down on impaired drivers Jan. 17-27.

The Winter Blitz enforcement period is the first of 16 The Heat Is On enforcement periods held in Colorado throughout the year. Officers arrested 612 impaired drivers during the Winter Blitz enforcement last year.

"DUI crashes continue to be a leading cause of fatalities on roadways," said Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT.  "Always plan a sober ride home. There are many alternatives options to get you home and no excuse not to use them." 

Even after only one or two drinks, some people may be close to or exceed Colorado’s DUI and DWAI limits. Colorado’s legal limits are .05% blood-alcohol content (BAC) for DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) and .08% BAC for DUI. Even if your BAC is less than .05%, you can still be arrested if an officer notices signs of impairment. The only absolute way to ensure you are safe to drive is to have a BAC of zero.

When considering fines, legal fees and increased insurance costs, a DUI can add up to more than $13,500.

“We strive to keep impaired drivers off Colorado roadways throughout the year,” said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of CSP. “These enforcement periods are meant to deter drivers from making the poor decision to drive impaired. Sadly, the data shows thousands of people still choose to drive impaired.”

CDOT’s Winter Blitz enforcement period and DUI-prevention campaign support CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to reduce traffic injuries and deaths.

ABOUT THE HEAT IS ON

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 16 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. Find more details about the campaign, including impaired driving enforcement plans, arrest totals and safety tips at HeatIsOnColorado.com.

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic, statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

ABOUT CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.