Don’t strike out with a DUI: CDOT and law enforcement begin mid-summer enforcement tomorrow

News Release

July 13 - Statewide - More than 1,900 DUI citations by Colorado State Patrol from Jan. 1 – May 31, 2022

Statewide — Sports fans statewide have had an exciting summer with the recent Colorado Avalanche championship. Now, as we head into a weekend of home Rockies games, CDOT, Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement are gearing up for the Summer Strike Out high visibility enforcement period from July 14-20. A DUI will do more than throw a curveball into your summer plans — it could land you in jail.

According to a recent CSP impaired enforcement report, there have been an estimated 1,901 DUI citations in Colorado from Jan. 1 – May 31 this year, with 1,213 of those involving alcohol only. El Paso County led with 231 DUI citations, followed by Adams (154), Weld (146) and Jefferson (143) counties.

“A DUI is not a minor traffic violation. You’re looking at months, potentially years, of your time to work through the process, costing thousands of dollars and leaving you with a criminal record,” said Col. Matthew Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Every single decision you make when operating a vehicle matters. There are safe ride alternatives at our disposal; make a smart choice for getting home.”

The recent Fourth of July enforcement period saw 190 arrests across 75 participating agencies, an increase from last year. Agencies with the highest number of arrests were Colorado State Patrol (62) and Colorado Springs Police Department (20). During high visibility impaired driving enforcement periods, drivers may experience impaired driving checkpoints and see increased law enforcement on the roads.

There were nine traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July weekend in 2022. More than half of those deaths involved a suspected impaired driver. Compared to the first six months of 2019, deaths involving impaired drivers have increased 73.8% in Colorado this year.

CDOT recently launched an awareness campaign called It's Not Complicated to prevent impaired driving. For more information on the campaign, visit: codot.gov/safety/impaired-driving. For campaign visuals, visit: dropbox.com/sh/dpkfvjm9tc4knoz/AAArxCURtJZgOeUcomnP8IlEa?dl=0.

“Impaired drivers are a menace to others on our roadways, including pedestrians, bicyclists or drivers,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Yes summer is a time for fun, but with that fun comes responsibility. That means never getting behind the wheel after drinking or consuming cannabis, regardless of how well you think you are to drive.”

2022 Impaired Driving Fatalities by County Chart

Local law enforcement and agency plans can be found at codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal. For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/crash-data-management/fatal-crash-data. For trends involving impaired driving court cases, drug toxicology results and other impaired driving data, visit the Colorado Driving Under the Influence dashboard at ors.colorado.gov/ors-dui.

DUI Arrests by Highest Agencies Chart

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.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new FREE COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!