Spring is officially here, and the Colorado Department of Transportation is encouraging Coloradans to leave the ‘buzz’ to the bees and away from the driver’s seat. From April 4–24, CDOT will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 73 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat Is On Spring Events DUI enforcement period. During the 21-day enforcement period, there will be additional law enforcement officers on duty across the state to remove impaired drivers from roadways. Drivers may also see saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints dedicated to arresting impaired drivers.
“Alcohol and other drugs impair your ability to concentrate and decrease your ability to focus on speed, other motorists and lane positioning,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “To put it simply: getting behind the wheel while impaired puts you and others at risk of a fatal crash — it’s never worth the risk. Even buzzed driving is drunk driving and can result in a DUI arrest.”
CSP crash investigations have found that Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights ranked the highest for impaired driving-related crashes. Since 2019, impaired drivers have been involved in 5,509 fatal, injury and property crashes during the weekend period in Colorado, mostly in the evenings. This is a nearly 27% increase compared to the 4,322 DUI crashes reported during the week since 2019.
With more Coloradans attending warm weather activities such as concerts, festivals and sporting events this spring, it is crucial for motorists to plan a sober ride to and from their destinations. Through high-visibility enforcement efforts, law enforcement remains proactive in reducing DUI crashes. Last year, there were 621 reported DUI arrests over the same Spring Events enforcement period. To date in 2024, impaired drivers have been involved in 24 traffic fatalities on Colorado roads.
“This spring, remember: the sun is out and so is law enforcement,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Make the responsible choice if you’ve been consuming alcohol or cannabis — put down the keys and plan a sober ride. Your decision could prevent a fatal crash and save lives.”
With the availability of safe-ride options such as rideshare services, taxis and public transit, there is no excuse to drive under the influence. If you have a designated driver, make sure they are not impaired before entering their vehicle. Even if you think you’re OK to drive, it’s always better to find a sober ride than risk a DUI or worse.
The recent St. Patrick’s Day Weekend enforcement period concluded with 239 arrests across 80 participating agencies. The agencies with the highest arrests were Denver Police Department (33), Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (17) and Colorado Springs Police Department (15). CSP reported 42 arrests. The next DUI enforcement period will be Memorial Day Weekend from May 16–June 5.
