1708 Drivers Cited During Spring Events DUI Enforcement
STATEWIDE – Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and statewide law enforcement agencies cited 1708 impaired drivers during the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT’s) five-week Spring Events DUI enforcement period. The effort showcased CDOT’s Whole System Whole Safety approach by leveraging partnerships with law enforcement across the state to conduct increased patrols and DUI checkpoints from April 5 to May 13. The campaign also encouraged people to make smart decisions and avoid impaired driving.
“Enforcement is a critical component to our Whole System Whole Safety program in Colorado,” said Shoshana Lew, Executive Director of CDOT. “Roadways are designed to minimize crash severity but removing at-risk drivers before they crash is a top priority, which underscores the importance of DUI enforcement in the state.”
106 agencies participated in the enforcement period, citing 1708 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs during the enforcement, a decrease from the 1932 citations given during last year’s Spring Events enforcement. Colorado Springs Police Department (174), Denver Police Department (170) and Aurora Police Department (91) recorded the highest arrest totals. CSP troops made 210 arrests.
“Drugs and alcohol reduce the function of the brain, impairing thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination – all of which are essential to safely operating a vehicle,” said Col. Matthew Packard, Chief of the CSP. “The CSP hopes that drivers will always choose designated drivers or alternative modes of transportation and watch out for friends and family who should not be driving. We want everyone to get home safely and not endanger themselves or those around them.”
The next Heat Is On enforcement period begins on Friday, May 24 and will continue through Memorial Day weekend to Tuesday, May 28. More than 100 law enforcement agencies throughout the state are likely to participate in the enforcement period. CDOT encourages drivers to plan for a sober ride home if they intend to participate in the holiday’s festivities.
About The Heat Is On
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 15 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. Find more details about the campaign, including impaired-driving enforcement plans, arrest totals and safety tips at HeatIsOnColorado.com.
To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System, Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behavior, the built environment and the organization’s operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving safety conditions for those traveling by all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission - to get everyone home safely.
Whole System. Whole Safety.
To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System | Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving safety conditions for those traveling by all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission - to get everyone home safely.
About CDOT
CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.
