Don’t fumble your fun this Super Bowl weekend: Heightened DUI enforcement begins Thursday
News Release
Statewide — Whatever your plans are for the biggest weekend in football, make a sober ride part of your game plan. From Feb. 6 to 12, the Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 76 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On Super Bowl Weekend DUI enforcement period. Drivers may see saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement officers on duty to remove impaired drivers from Colorado’s roads. Following Super Bowl Weekend, DUI enforcement begins for Presidents Week from Feb. 13 to 26. Combined, these make up 21 consecutive days of high-visibility impaired driving enforcement.
Last year, one-third (210) of traffic fatalities in Colorado involved an impaired driver. While impaired driving-related fatalities have decreased in recent years, anything above zero deaths and serious injuries is unacceptable. Protect yourself and other motorists by choosing a safe-ride option such as a rideshare service, taxi or public transit if you’ve been drinking. If you have a designated driver, make sure they are truly sober before heading home.
“Don't drop the ball, plan a sober ride before the game starts. A DUI will ruin more than your weekend, and a crash could ruin someone’s life,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “This weekend, leave the keys behind if you’ll be consuming alcohol or cannabis. Your fellow football fans count on you to make responsible choices behind the wheel.”
Last year’s Super Bowl Weekend enforcement period concluded with 195 reported DUI arrests across the state. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Colorado Crime Statistics, there were 15,566 DUI cases filed in 2024. The age group with the highest number of arrests was individuals aged 25 to 34; this group had a total of 5,203 DUI arrests last year.
It’s always better to call a sober friend than risk a DUI arrest. According to NoDUIColorado.org, first-time DUI offenders rack up an average cost of $13,530 and a minimum of 170 hours of their time dealing with the consequences in addition to any criminal fines:
- Increased auto insurance: $3,600
- Ignition interlock service: $2,172
- Alcohol/drug treatment and education: $1,000
- Defense attorney: $3,650
- Arrest, court and legal fees: $2,300
- Department of Revenue & DMV fees: $773
“Don’t fumble your fun during the biggest weekend in football — plan a safe ride home,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “There is no excuse to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
If you’ll be the designated driver this weekend, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. 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.
The recent Winter Blitz DUI enforcement period concluded with 264 arrests across 82 participating agencies. The agencies with the highest arrests were Longmont Police Department (24), Fort Collins Police Department (22), Northglenn Police Department (11) and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (11). CSP reported 76 arrests.
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 find more about 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.
