Keep a DUI off your wish list this season: Holiday Parties enforcement period begins Thursday
News Release
Statewide — ‘Tis the season for holiday parties and sober rides. If you’ve been drinking, do not get behind the wheel. From Dec. 12 to Dec. 25, the Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 75 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On Holiday Parties DUI enforcement period. Drivers may see saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement officers on duty dedicated to arresting impaired drivers.
As travel increases during the holidays, Colorado tends to see a spike in impaired driving-related crashes and fatalities. So far in 2024, 190 fatalities on Colorado roads have involved an impaired driver, 30% of all traffic fatalities this year. Driving sober, following the speed limit, putting distractions away and wearing your seat belt are the best ways to keep yourself and others safe on the road, CDOT says.
"Colorado law enforcement made 1,350 DUI arrests last December alone. Avoid a DUI this holiday season by making a plan for a sober ride," said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. "Encourage your friends or family members to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, too. Responsibility is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to driving sober."
Email [email protected] to download graph.
Today, Dec. 10, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) Colorado will be hosting the annual Giving and Gratitude event. The event will highlight the impact that impaired driving has on victims, survivors and those around them. Throughout the event, victim families will share stories and present a Community Champion award to an individual or organization that made it possible for family members to move forward on their healing journeys.
“In 2023, MADD served 320 families across Colorado. The loss of a single life is enough to call for change. Last year, we saw 208 lives taken by impaired driving and many more people injured,” said Rebecca Green, Executive Director of MADD Colorado. “Drunk and drug-impaired driving continues to happen at alarming rates, which means families continue to turn to us during the worst and most unexpected times of their lives. Giving and Gratitude is a dedication to the families served by MADD, and a chance to recognize and thank those in our community who stand with victims and survivors. Together, we can end impaired driving.”
CDOT and MADD remind drivers to keep themselves and their loved ones safe this holiday season. If you plan to host a party, make sure your guests stay safe by following the tips below:
- Collect your guests’ car keys upon arrival. Or, encourage them to designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service, taxi or public transportation
- Call a friend or family member for a guest if they have been drinking or offer them a place to stay if a sober ride home is unavailable
- Stop serving alcohol at least two hours before the party is over. Provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options
- Be persistent if a guest is intoxicated and planning to drive home. Explain that you care about their safety and cannot let them get behind the wheel
- Remember, as a host, you could be held liable if a guest you serve alcohol to gets in a crash
"Keep a DUI off your wish list this holiday season," said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. "If you plan to drink, plan a sober ride home. Use a rideshare service, taxi, designated driver or public transit to get home safely. Just never drive impaired."
If you’ll be in the driver’s seat this holiday season, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. On Jan. 1, 2025, a new law will go into effect in Colorado that prohibits drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted. CDOT is urging all drivers to begin practicing hands-free driving now, ensuring they are prepared when the law takes effect.
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.
DUI Checkpoint B-Roll
CDOT is making available new DUI checkpoint footage, available free for media use, offering a compelling glimpse of what happens during a checkpoint. The footage captures real-life interactions between law enforcement officers and drivers at DUI checkpoints, highlighting the consequences of impaired driving. Email [email protected] to access these photos. Note: The people portrayed in the videos signed participation waivers to be included in filming.
About The Heat Is On
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.
Crash Not Accident
Note to reporters: Crashes are no accident — they are preventable. We would appreciate you saying 'crash' instead of 'accident' when reporting
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:
- Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
- Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
- Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
- See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
- Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
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!
