Impaired drivers be warned: CDOT and law enforcement increase DUI patrols for holiday weekend

STATEWIDE — The Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement are sending a firm warning to would-be impaired drivers — if you drive impaired, you will be pulled over and arrested. The next The Heat Is On DUI enforcement period is underway today through Feb. 21 during the long President's Day weekend.

Preliminary 2022 data shows that of the 33 people killed in fatal crashes so far this year, 48% (16) have involved an impaired driver.

“Impaired driving is an issue of increasing concern for the Colorado State Patrol and CDOT,” said Col. Matthew Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It’s one of the most selfish decisions anyone can make when they get behind the wheel impaired. Remove the guesswork — if you plan to drink, plan for a sober ride. Once you've consumed too much, chances are low you'll make the right choice to not drive.”

As part of the enforcement period, 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.

The enforcement comes on the heels of the recent Super Bowl DUI enforcement period, in which there were 89 reported arrests from 77 participating law enforcement agencies, according to preliminary data. Last year’s Super Bowl Weekend enforcement period ended with 188 arrests among 97 participating agencies.

“It’s our shared responsibility to prevent impaired in Colorado,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “If you have a designated driver, make sure they are truly sober, not simply less drunk than you are. Buzzed driving is drunk driving, and any amount of alcohol or cannabis in your system puts you at risk for a DUI."

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.

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.