Cops Haunt Colorado Roadways this Halloween Looking for Drunk Drivers

October 28, 2010 - Traffic Safety - Worst Nightmare Already Comes True for 1,813 Arrested for DUI This Fall - Denver, CO – Ghouls and goblins won’t be the only ones out in force this Halloween weekend.

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 78 local law enforcement agencies will work overtime across the state in an effort to scare potential drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel and arresting those who do.

The Halloween “Heat Is On” DUI enforcement will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 and continues through 3 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1. Increased patrols, saturation patrols and at least one sobriety checkpoint are planned.  In 2009, 357 drivers were arrested for DUI during Halloween enforcement, when Halloween fell on a Saturday.  This year Halloween is on Sunday.

“With good weather forecasted and Halloween falling on the weekend again, we expect many people will celebrate the holiday with alcohol,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.  “But dressing up and putting on a mask doesn’t give you an excuse to act irresponsibly by driving impaired. Don’t be the real monster this Halloween by endangering yourself or someone else.”

In 2009, October proved to be the deadliest month for DUI crashes, with 26 people killed.  According to preliminary reports, 34 people have been killed in traffic crashes so far this October, but it is too early to determine how many of these deaths were alcohol-related.

Halloween enforcement comes on the heels of the Fall Festivals enforcement period that began Sept. 10 and ended Oct. 25.  CSP and 56 local agencies arrested 1,813 people for DUI during the enforcement period.

“The 1,813 people arrested for impaired driving over the past few weeks had absolutely no excuse to put everyone in danger by not planning ahead for a sober ride home,” said Pamela Hutton, governor’s representative for highway safety at the Colorado Department of Transportation.  “Now they are living the real nightmare of a DUI, which may cost them their driving privilege and more than $10,000 in fines, fees and insurances increases. Clearly, drinking and driving is not worth it.”

To view a list of agencies participating in increased DUI enforcement for Halloween, click here.
For detailed information about arrests results by agency and current enforcement plans, visit www.HeatIsOnColorado.com.