More than 500 impaired drivers arrested during Holiday and New Year's Eve enforcement periods

During the Heat Is On New Year’s Eve DUI enforcement period, a total of 106 law enforcement agencies arrested 164 impaired drivers. The statewide, high-visibility enforcement ran from Dec. 29 to Jan. 2.

“DUIs go beyond short-term impacts like fees, fines and court appearances. Each year, thousands of Coloradans experience the long-term shock waves from a DUI, including driver's license revocation, employment impacts and higher insurance rates, not to mention potential jail time. The good news is that DUIs are entirely preventable,” said Chief Matthew Packard, Colorado State Patrol. "Our 2021 enforcement efforts will continue to include sobriety checkpoints, increased officers on duty, and concentrated patrols in high-risk areas to catch those that fail to think about the short- and long-term impacts of driving while impaired."

In 2021, CDOT and law enforcement agencies will work together during 16 high-visibility DUI enforcement efforts, beginning with the Winter Blitz DUI enforcement from Jan. 15-25. Eighty-eight agencies plan to boost DUI patrols to help support the goal of reaching zero deaths on Colorado’s roadways. Current enforcement period plans for local areas are available at codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal Arrest totals are also available at that link.