CDOT calls for New Year, new habits with last DUI enforcement of the year

STATEWIDE — As Coloradans begin writing their New Year’s resolutions, the Colorado Department of Transportation asks people to leave one behavior behind: impaired driving. Over one-third of fatalities on Colorado roads involved an impaired driver in 2021. Therefore, the Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies will continue their efforts to keep impaired drivers off the roads with The Heat Is On New Year’s Eve enforcement period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2.

In addition to ride hailing services or calling a sober friend, there are plenty of additional resources made available during the holidays for people to get home safely.

The American Automobile Association (AAA), in partnership with Lyft, will continue its Tow-to-Go program through the New Year’s Eve holiday, concluding Jan. 3, 2022. Having launched during the week of Thanksgiving, the free-of-charge service transports impaired drivers and tows their vehicles to safer locations within a 10-mile radius — designed as a last-resort safety net. The identity of those who use the service is kept confidential to encourage Coloradans to use this as an alternative to driving impaired. For more information, visit aaa.com/towtogo.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will once again partner with Molson Coors to encourage Denver residents and visitors to celebrate responsibly this New Year’s Eve. Coors Light Free Rides will be available on all RTD bus and rail routes — as well as Access-a-Ride, FlexRide and SkyRide services — from 7 p.m. Dec. 31 through 7 a.m. Jan. 1. The 2022 New Year’s Eve holiday marks the 13th year of this partnership. RTD customers can plan trips and find route and schedule information at https://www.rtd-denver.com/.

“New Year’s Eve marks the end of the holiday season, and brings the promise of a great year ahead,” said Col. Matthew Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Let's start the new year with a renewed focus on caring for one another. Families and friends can ensure that there is a sober driver, a ride share, or a safe place to stay if someone they love is impaired. Let's make 2022 the year that impaired driving becomes history.”

Several law firms statewide such as The Sawaya Law Firm and The Lux Law Firm will help cover the cost of a cab, Uber or Lyft for those needing a safe ride home. It’s as easy as sending your ride receipt to the firm to get reimbursed for all or a portion of the ride.

“The issue of impaired driving dates back decades, yet year-to-year, we still see innocent lives taken by the choice to drive under the influence,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “In order for everyone to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones this year, drivers must take responsibility and seek an alternative ride if they plan to drink alcohol or consume cannabis.”

CDOT’s “Ultimate Party Host” campaign offered $13,000 in Uber ride credits statewide as a resource for people to get to their destination safely. CDOT is reminding all Coloradans who have claimed the promotion to redeem their credits before they expire on Jan. 3.

For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/crash-data-management/fatal-crash-data. Information about DUI laws in Colorado can be found at NoDUIColorado.org. For trends involving impaired driving court cases, drug toxicology results and other impaired driving data, visit the Colorado Driving Under the Influence (DUI) dashboard at https://ors.colorado.gov/ors-dui.

Drivers may see sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. Local law enforcement agency plans can be found at https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal.

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. More information about DUI laws in Colorado can be found at NoDUIColorado.org. Learn more about CDOT’s dedication to keeping Colorado roads safe, including impaired driving enforcement objectives, arrest data and safety information at codot.gov/safety.