CDOT kicks off DUI enforcement for Super Bowl weekend

STATEWIDE — While the 49ers and Chiefs compete for the Super Bowl, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and statewide law enforcement agencies will find victory in keeping all motorists safe from impaired drivers this Super Bowl weekend. Today, CDOT, CSP and participating agencies kickoff The Heat Is On Super Bowl Weekend DUI enforcement. Ninety-one law enforcement agencies are participating in the campaign, which ends Feb. 3.

The Super Bowl Weekend enforcement period is the second of 16 The Heat Is On enforcement periods in Colorado this year. Officers arrested 315 impaired drivers during the same enforcement last year.

In addition to planning a sober ride, mobile breathalyzers can help people make better decisions when it comes to drinking and driving. To purchase or learn more about personal breathalyzers, visit codot.bactrack.com.

Consequences for a DUI can include up to one year in jail, license suspension and more than $13,500 after considering fines, legal fees and increased insurance costs.

“In Colorado, getting pulled over with a BAC (blood-alcohol content) of 0.05 will result in a DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired), and at a BAC of 0.08, you’ll be charged with a DUI,” said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of CSP. “The bottom line is that if you’ve had a drink, don’t drive. No level of impairment is acceptable. We want to deter drivers from getting behind the wheel impaired, which in turn saves lives on Colorado roads.”

CDOT and 96 law enforcement agencies across the state recently completed the 10-day Winter Blitz DUI enforcement period, arresting 522 impaired drivers. The 522 arrests were a decrease from the 612 arrests during the same enforcement last year. The Colorado Springs Police Department (58 arrests), Denver Police Department (57 arrests), and Larimer County Sheriffs Office (31 arrests) recorded the most arrests. CSP made 69 arrests. A complete list of arrests can be found at codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal.

CDOT’s The Heat Is On DUI-prevention campaign supports CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to reduce traffic injuries and deaths.

If you are joining the festivities this weekend, remember these tips to keep yourself and loved ones safe:

Plan to Drink?

• Plan a sober ride home before heading out to watch the big game. Consider getting a sober ride to your destination so you won’t be tempted to later drive impaired. Options available include taxis, Uber, Lyft and public transit.
• If you have a designated driver, ensure they are truly sober, not simply more sober than you are. Buzzed driving is still drunk driving.
• If you’re ever unsure if you are safe to drive, always err on the side of caution and find a sober ride home.

Hosting a Party?

• Encourage your guests to designate a sober driver or plan for a safe ride home.
• Create an Uber or Lyft group ride code for your party and share with your guests.
• Provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks to keep everyone fed and hydrated throughout the game.
• Don’t forget that, as a host, if you serve a guest alcohol and he or she gets in a crash, you could be held liable.
• Offer guests a night on your couch if a sober ride home is unavailable.

Are You the Designated Driver?

• If you’re driving, do not drink. Your responsible choice can save lives.
• Offer rides to those who may not have planned a sober ride home.
• Buckle up and require all your passengers to do the same when it’s time to head home.

 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.