CDOT gears up for 2022 with the first DUI enforcement campaign of the year
News Release
STATEWIDE — With the new year in full effect, the Colorado Department of Transportation asks Coloradans to put safety first when behind the wheel and to never drive impaired. CDOT, Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies welcome 2022 with The Heat Is On Winter Blitz enforcement period from Jan. 14-17, holding drivers accountable on Colorado roads. According to the most recent data from CDOT, traffic fatalities involving an impaired driver rose 16% in 2021.
During last year’s Winter Blitz enforcement period from Jan. 15-25, 94 law enforcement agencies arrested 391 impaired drivers.
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.
“All impaired driving deaths in 2021 could have — and should have — been avoided,” said Col. Matthew Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The new year is a chance to reset your own beliefs and behaviors around driving: buckle up, put down distractions and always drive sober. Stop the excuses, you're not driving alone out there.”
Colorado ended the 2021 year with a total of 672 fatalities on our roadways, with 246 (37%) involving an impaired driver. In December alone, there were 36 roadways fatalities, with 45% (15) involving an impaired driver. The counties that saw the most impaired driving deaths in 2021 are as follows:
- Adams County, with 25 fatalities
- Denver County, with 24 fatalities
- Jefferson County, with 21 fatalities
- (*El Paso county data is not yet available)
“Starting the new year with a commitment to safety is something we all need to do,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. "Winter driving can be a challenge, even under the best conditions, so please never drive impaired. We all want to make it home safely."
During the recent Holiday Parties DUI enforcement period, 84 law enforcement agencies reported 311 total arrests, a decrease from last year’s 349 arrests during the same enforcement. The Colorado Springs Police Department (40) and Denver Police Department (29) recorded the highest number of arrests. Over the long New Year’s weekend, there were 83 DUI arrests.
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.
