CDOT delivers DUI message directly to patrons at local bar Friday night
News Release
DENVER — A night out on the town is for making memories — the right kind of memories. Driving impaired can quickly turn your night into a nightmare with a DUI. The Colorado Department of Transportation is partnering with Blake Street Tavern to help increase public awareness of the consequences of impaired driving. CDOT will have a special photo booth at Blake Street Tavern this evening, July 30, to remind patrons to never drive impaired.
The photo booth will deliver this important message in a surprising way. The last image in each series of photos shows bar customers at a drastically different location — jail. The mugshot will emphasize how quickly a person’s night can be altered by the choice to drive impaired and serve as a creative reminder to always arrange a sober ride.
“With more bars and local establishments opening their doors at full capacity this summer, we expect to see more Coloradans out drinking. But with the fun and excitement comes responsibility,” said Sam Cole, CDOT Communications Manager. “We want everyone to consider what is at stake when you choose to drink and drive. A DUI arrest is a criminal offense with consequences that will alter your life for years. We urge everyone to always end their night with a sober ride home.”
The choice to drive impaired can cost upwards of $13,500 after considering fines, legal fees and increased insurance costs. Lost time due to court dates, a revoked license, up to one year in jail and probation time are additional consequences of a DUI. Most importantly, it can affect the lives of those around you. So far this year, 102 people have been killed by a suspected impaired driver in Colorado. Learn more about the consequences of a DUI at: https://noduicolorado.org/.
"Being in the center of LoDo's bar and restaurant scene, we want to do our part to ensure that all of our patrons get home safe after spending time at our location,” said Elise Kornefell, Blake Street Tavern Manager. "We appreciate the opportunity to partner with CDOT on its DUI-prevention efforts and urge all of our customers to always arrange a sober ride to and from Blake Street Tavern, and in any circumstance where they're impaired."
CDOT's new It's Not Complicated campaign aims to inform Coloradans that no matter how many alcoholic beverages they've had, the answer to whether or not to drive after drinking is always 'no.' Many people spend an enormous amount of energy trying to convince themselves they are okay to drive after drinking. Unfortunately, magic solutions like "chug two glasses of water" don't exist. The truth is, if you’ve been drinking, you’re not okay to drive.
The campaign features radio ads, social media, billboards, video ads and messaging in liquor stores, all showcasing charts and graphs to illustrate that no matter the circumstance, it's never okay to drive after drinking. For more information on the It's Not Complicated campaign, visit: https://www.codot.gov/safety/
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.
About CDOT
CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.
Note: Sam Cole will be available for interviews at Blake Street Tavern. To schedule interviews, please text/call 303.859.1304 or [email protected].
** Please visit this link for photo booth event photos (to date), b-roll footage and additional information: https://bit.ly/3lrZQ67
