CDOT provides safe ride options ahead of New Year’s Eve DUI enforcement

Haga clic aquí para ver este comunicado de prensa CDOT brinda opciones de viaje seguros ante la vigilancia de conductores afectados por alcohol o drogas de la víspera de Año Nuevo en español.

Statewide — Like the bubbly, the holiday spirit is flowing — so make sure your weekend party plans include a safe and sober ride home. From Dec. 29 – Jan. 3, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies are coming together for the New Year’s Eve DUI enforcement period, asking Coloradans to start 2023 safely.

CDOT’s “Nothing Uglier Than a DUI” campaign continues into the new year. An additional 1,500 Lyft credits are available for the New Year’s Eve holiday to help Coloradans get home safe. Coloradans can redeem a $10 credit using the code “NODUISNYE” in the Promotions section of the Lyft app until Jan. 3, 2023. All ride credits, available statewide, can only be redeemed from 5 p.m. - 5 a.m. Click here to apply the credit directly to the Lyft app from a mobile device. The promotion is a partnership with the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Lyft and Responsibility.org. Over 1,300 Lyft credits have been used so far in December.

“The new year brings plenty of parties around town to celebrate, and troopers are prepared to keep Coloradans safe by removing impaired drivers from our roads,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Our DUI enforcement efforts are vital, but we’re counting on all Coloradans to make responsible choices this holiday. Don’t end the year with a DUI — make a plan to get home safe and stick with it.”
In addition to CDOT’s “Nothing Uglier than a DUI” safe ride credits and ride-hailing options, several law firms and transportation organizations throughout the state are offering free rides to prevent drunk driving.

• RTD's "Coors' Zero Fares" program offers fare-free RTD rides — as well as Access-a-Ride, FlexRide and SkyRide services — on New Year's Eve from 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 - 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1.
• The Sawaya Law Firm will cover the cost of a cab, Uber or Lyft for those needing a safe ride home in Colorado. It’s as easy as sending your ride receipt to the firm to get reimbursed for all or a portion of the ride. For specific program details, visit www.sawayalaw.com/cab-program.
• The McDivitt Law Firm will provide free cab rides home to residents in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Call City Cab in Pueblo at 719-543-2525 or if you’re in Colorado Springs, call zTrip (formerly Yellow Cab) at 719-766-4567, or use the zTrip app to order a ride. If you use the zTrip app, make sure you mark “Pay in Car” at the time of booking. When you get in the cab, just tell your driver, “It’s on McDivitt.” Please note, these rides are only available between the drinking establishment and the customer’s home, not to another bar or restaurant. Visit www.mcdivittlaw.com/about/mmad/free-rides-home for program information.

“Impaired driving can be avoided by giving up your keys and never getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or cannabis,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Designate a sober driver or use a ride-hailing option. It’s that simple. Risking your life and the lives of others is never worth it.”

According to CSP, as of October 31, the agency has issued a total of 3,829 DUI citations on Colorado roads in 2022, bringing the 4-year average to 4,093. Alcohol-only citations make up 53% (2,183) of CSP’s DUI citations this year. Additionally, CSP has responded to 73 alcohol- and drug-caused DUI crashes in 2022. The counties with the highest percentage of alcohol-only DUI crashes were as follows:

• El Paso (462), of which 57% were alcohol-only crashes.
• Adams (316), of which 63% were alcohol-only crashes.
• Jefferson (285), of which 67% were alcohol-only crashes.
• Weld (247), of which 69% were alcohol-only crashes.
• Larimer (218), of which 50% were alcohol-only crashes.

During enforcement periods, drivers may see sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. The recent Holiday Parties enforcement period concluded with 198 arrests across 73 participating agencies. The agencies with the highest arrests were Colorado Springs Police Department (26), Fort Collins Police Department (16) and Loveland Police Department (14). 

For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/data-analysis/fatal-crash-data. For local law enforcement agency plans, visit 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.