CDOT urges safe and sober driving as DUI enforcement begins

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Statewide - The summer may be winding down, but the heat is on for impaired drivers. The Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies are joining together for heightened DUI enforcement from Aug. 17 – Sept. 8. Increased statewide enforcement and saturation patrols will remove impaired drivers from the roads through the Labor Day holiday weekend.

As of Aug. 1 this year, 140 people have been killed by suspected impaired drivers on Colorado roads, accounting for 37% of the 368 total traffic deaths this year.

“There’s no margin for error when you’re driving. Your reaction time and ability to stay in your lane are impacted by consuming alcohol or drugs,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Make the choice to do the right thing and plan ahead for a sober ride.”

There have been 655 DUI arrests on Colorado roads during recent DUI enforcement periods this summer. During last year’s Labor Day DUI enforcement, 81 participating law enforcement agencies arrested 542 impaired drivers.

“There are many options you can choose instead of getting behind the wheel impaired, but it takes planning and accountability,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Call a friend or loved one, or use a rideshare service. Just don’t drive when you’re drinking or using cannabis — your safety and the safety of others depends on the decisions you make.”

Local law enforcement agency plans and arrest results across the state can be found at https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal. 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.

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 codot.gov/safety/impaired-driving. 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.