Labor Day DUI Enforcement Begins Tomorrow
STATEWIDE—Last month, 25 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver, the most in one month since 2014. To ensure roads are free from impaired drivers during the upcoming Labor Day holiday, CDOT, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law agencies are joining forces to conduct a The Heat Is On DUI-enforcement campaign from Aug. 18 to Sept. 5.
The annual Labor Day DUI crackdown will include 118 law enforcement agencies from across the state, which makes it the largest crackdown of the year. Last year's Labor Day enforcement cited 974 impaired drivers, an average of 54 arrests per day. This number was the third highest arrest total of CDOT's 14 enforcement periods in 2016.
"Last Labor Day, seven of the nine people killed in traffic crashes were involved in alcohol-related crashes," said Darrell Lingk, director of CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety. "That is the most impaired driving-related fatalities on Labor Day in nine years. It just goes to show that it only takes a few people to make misguided decisions to change several people's lives forever."
In addition to the Labor Day enforcement, CDOT is launching a groundbreaking statewide campaign to help Coloradans understand their limits when it comes to drinking and driving. In partnership with BACtrack—a leading personal and professional breathalyzer company—the campaign Before You Go, Know urges Coloradans to check their blood-alcohol content (BAC) to confirm they are sober before they drive. As part of this campaign, BACtrack is offering a 20 percent discount on breathalyzer products to Colorado residents through the end of September. Visit HeatIsOnColorado.com or BACtrack.com, and use the code "CDOT" for the discount and free shipping.
The Labor Day enforcement comes after the latest The Heat Is On enforcement, 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 526 impaired drivers and motorcyclists during the enforcement.
Ninety-two law enforcement agencies participated in the 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, the Colorado State Patrol made 53 arrests. (Access all arrest results statewide. Arrest data can be sorted by county, law enforcement agency and enforcement period.)
"Whether you are riding a motorcycle or driving a car, impaired driving is dangerous all the same," said Col. Scott Hernandez, chief of CSP. "Always make a plan for a sober ride before you begin drinking. A DUI or even worse, seriously hurting yourself or others on the road, is simply not worth the risk."
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 14 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.
Learn more about the campaign, including impaired driving enforcement plans, arrest totals and safety tips.
