Sturgis Rally-Labor Day Enforcement Recap

Traditionally, August and September are two of the most dangerous months on Colorado roads due to an increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities. In the past two years, 84 people were killed in impaired-driving crashes in August and September, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total alcohol-related fatalities in that time period.

To reduce the number of impaired drivers during the Labor Day holiday, CDOT, Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies joined forces under The Heat Is On campaign to conduct a nearly three-week DUI enforcement beginning Aug. 18 through Sept. 5.

The enforcement includes 105 law enforcement agencies from across the state. Last year’s Labor Day enforcement cited 974 impaired drivers, the third-highest arrest total of CDOT’s 14 enforcement periods in 2016.

The Labor Day enforcement comes after the latest The Heat Is On enforcement period, which coincided with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. CDOT and CSP conducted a DUI-enforcement period from Aug. 4-14 to ensure all motorists traveled safely to and from the event. Law enforcement cited 548 impaired motorists during the enforcement.

One hundred seven law enforcement agencies participated in the Sturgis enforcement, with the Colorado Springs Police Department (57 arrests), Aurora Police Department (45 arrests), and Denver Police Department (39 arrests) recording the highest arrest totals. In addition, CSP made 59 arrests.