Leave impaired driving behind: CDOT urges motorists to drive sober this spring

No manejen ebrios o drogados: CDOT pide a los motoristas manejar sobrios esta primavera en español

Statewide — Spring into safety this spring by choosing a sober ride. From April 3 to 23, the Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 74 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On Spring Events DUI enforcement period. During the 21-day period, there will be additional law enforcement officers on duty across the state to remove impaired drivers from roadways. Drivers may also see saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints dedicated to arresting impaired drivers. This is the longest DUI enforcement period to take place so far in 2025.

With more Coloradans attending warm-weather activities such as baseball games, backyard barbecues and outdoor concerts this spring, it’s crucial for motorists to plan a sober ride to and from their destinations. From March through May last year, there were 50 impaired driving-related traffic deaths in Colorado. Getting behind the wheel while impaired puts you and others at risk of a fatal crash — it’s never worth the risk.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, drugs or a combination of these substances is dangerous and illegal. There is — and never will be — an excuse to get behind the wheel while under the influence,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Expect to see more law enforcement out patrolling for DUIs as the weather warms and Coloradans are tempted to party and drive.”

CSP crash investigations have found that impaired driving remains a leading factor in crashes on Colorado roadways — with Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights ranking the highest for DUIs and impaired driving-related crashes. CDOT encourages people to plan an alternate way home after a night out, such as ride-share services, public transportation, taxis or a designated driver.

“Too often, people choose to drive impaired because it feels like the easiest option in the moment — they don’t want to leave their car, wake a friend or pay for a ride. But getting behind the wheel after drinking is never the easy way out. A DUI can derail your life for years — or worse, end someone else’s,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Plan how you’ll get home before you go out, and remember, even a couple drinks can put you over the legal limit.”

Last year’s Spring Events DUI enforcement period concluded with 771 impaired-driving arrests in Colorado. Through high-visibility enforcement efforts, Colorado law enforcement remains proactive in reducing DUI crashes. Leave impaired driving behind and plan a sober ride home.

The recent St. Patrick’s Day Weekend DUI enforcement period concluded with 221 arrests across 84 participating agencies. The agencies with the highest arrests were Thornton Police Department (11), Fort Collins Police Department (10) and Greeley Police Department (9). CSP reported 92 arrests. The next DUI enforcement period will be Memorial Day Weekend from May 22 to 28.

Also, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and CDOT is urging motorists to drive sober and put distractions away. On Jan. 1, a new law went into effect in Colorado that prohibits drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted. CDOT urges all drivers to adopt safer driving practices and ensure you are compliant with the new law. Learn how to use your car’s Bluetooth system, invest in a dashboard cellphone mount or car speakerphone system, and review the penalties for violating the law at codot.gov/handsfreeco.

Finally, From April 7 to 13, CDOT will support law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado for the first seat belt enforcement period of 2025. During the two-week period, law enforcement will increase patrols and focus on issuing citations to unbuckled drivers as part of the national Click It or Ticket effort.

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. Contact Sam Cole to download these photos.

Note: The people portrayed in the videos signed participation waivers to be included in filming.

About The Heat Is On

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.