Make safety your priority: Presidents Week DUI enforcement begins Thursday
News Release
Statewide — With busier roadways forecasted ahead of the long weekend, making responsible choices behind the wheel could save lives — including your decision to never drive impaired. From Feb. 15–28, the Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 68 local law enforcement agencies for the Presidents Week DUI enforcement period. This is part of 20 days of high-visibility, back-to-back DUI enforcement, which began with Super Bowl Weekend on Feb. 8. Saturation patrols across the state will remove impaired drivers from roads and encourage Coloradans to enjoy the holiday weekend responsibly. During enforcement periods, drivers may see sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to arresting impaired drivers.
Impaired driving accounted for 31% of traffic fatalities and over 15,000 DUI arrests in Colorado last year. Based on preliminary data, the counties with the highest number of fatalities involving an impaired driver in 2023 were Arapahoe (26), Adams (22), El Paso (21), Denver (21) and Jefferson (20). In Jefferson county, 41.7% of traffic fatalities in 2023 involved impairment.
“Long weekends are made for short trips or activities with loved ones. If alcohol or other drugs are involved in your plans, driving shouldn't be,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Your actions matter. So make the right choice to protect your life, the lives of your passengers and other motorists by never driving impaired.”
In 2020, over 60% of those who died in DUI crashes in the U.S. were the impaired drivers themselves, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alcohol and cannabis are proven to slow reaction time and reduce peripheral vision. Whether you’re traveling to the mountains or attending a party this Presidents Day weekend, plan to use a rideshare service, taxi, designated driver or public transportation to safely reach your destination.
“Last year’s Presidents Week enforcement period resulted in 376 DUI arrests in Colorado,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “If you know you’ll be consuming alcohol or cannabis this weekend, make a plan to get home safely. Don’t risk getting a DUI or being involved in a crash.”
Combined, the Super Bowl Weekend and Presidents Week enforcement periods make up 20 straight days of high visibility enforcement in February. The next DUI enforcement period will be St. Patrick’s Day Weekend from March 14 to 20.
For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/
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. Find more information by clicking here. 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.
