Memorial Day enforcement kicks off summer impaired driving prevention efforts

Memorial Day is just around the corner — a holiday to reflect on the sacrifices of others and to hold our loved ones close. We can’t all be heroes, but we can all choose to be safe and sober behind the wheel to help everyone get home safely. 

The Heat Is On high visibility DUI enforcement periods urge drivers to consume responsibly and have a safe ride home as the summer season sets in. Historically, law enforcement across Colorado see an increase in impaired driving crashes and fatalities between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The upcoming Memorial Day DUI enforcement period will begin May 16 and run through June 5.

CDOT closed out its St. Patrick’s Day enforcement period with 172 arrests among 81 participating agencies, marking a decrease from the previous year’s arrests. The Colorado Springs Police Department (22 arrests), Denver Police Department (18 arrests), and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (14 arrests) recorded the highest number of arrests during the enforcement. Results for the enforcement period can be found at https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal.