Keep your charm this weekend: St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement begins Thursday
News Release
Statewide — Don’t count on luck to get you home safely. Plan a sober ride to and from your destination this weekend. From March 13 to 19, the Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 76 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On St. Patrick’s Day Weekend DUI enforcement period. During enforcement periods, Coloradans may see sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to arresting impaired drivers.
To help keep people safe, CDOT will be distributing rideshare credits and other safe driving materials at this Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Denver, in partnership with AAA Colorado, OtterBox and Gills Point S Tire & Auto Service. Lucky winners could receive a $10 Uber credit, a code for a discounted or free mobile device mount or a $50 discount on a new set of tires. Parade attendees and those partaking in holiday celebrations are encouraged to practice safe driving habits. Use a rideshare service or public transportation, such as RTD, to avoid a DUI and avoid distractions while behind the wheel. For people hosting St. Patrick’s Day parties, CDOT urges all guests to have a safe and sober ride home.
"Consumption of impairing substances is common during St. Patrick’s Day and we ask that you consider the safety of yourself and other motorists on our roads. Remember, alcohol and cannabis slow your reaction time and put you at greater risk of a crash,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of Colorado State Patrol. “Don’t make excuses this weekend — choose a sober ride. Use a rideshare service, taxi or public transit to get home safely. If you have a designated driver, make sure they are truly sober before getting in their vehicle.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nighttime driving during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday is significantly more dangerous than daytime driving. During the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day holiday, nearly half (47%) of drivers involved in a fatal crash after midnight were impaired. Additionally, CSP crash investigations have found that Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights continuously rank the highest for impaired driving-related crashes. Since 2019, impaired drivers have been involved in more than 5,300 fatal, injury and property crashes during the weekend period in Colorado, mostly in the evenings.
Motorists should also be aware that driving under the influence of any impairing substance is illegal, not just alcohol. Using alcohol and cannabis together enhances the effect of each substance. CDOT wants everyone to know the effects of combining the two drugs.
- Loss of coordination and problem-solving skills
- Distorted perception of time, distance and speed
- Slowed reaction time
“Impaired driving is dangerous, illegal and always unacceptable,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “If you plan to drink green beer or Guinness this St. Patrick’s Day, make the responsible choice and plan a sober ride home. Your decision could prevent a DUI arrest, license suspension, serious injury or even loss of life.”
Colorado law enforcement made 252 DUI arrests during last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Weekend enforcement period. So far this year, there have been 18 impaired driving-related traffic deaths and 814 DUI arrests made during heightened enforcement periods in Colorado. Planning for a sober ride is the best way to avoid the temptation to drive impaired, CDOT says.
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.
Preliminary data shows the recent Heat Is On Presidents Week DUI enforcement period concluded with 334 arrests across 82 participating agencies. The agencies with the highest arrests were Thornton Police Department (21), Larimer County Sheriff's Office (19) and Fort Collins Police Department (16). CSP reported 96 arrests. The next DUI enforcement period will be Spring Events from April 3 to 23.
For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/data-analysis/fatal-crash-data. For local law enforcement agency plans, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal.
Crash Not Accident
Note to reporters: Crashes are no accident — they are preventable. We would appreciate you saying 'crash' instead of 'accident' when reporting.
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. Access the footage by contacting samuel.cole@state.co.us.
**The people portrayed in the videos signed participation waivers to be included in filming.
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.
