COLORADO SPRINGS — While many Coloradans celebrate Fourth of July weekend, statewide law enforcement officers will keep their eyes out for impaired drivers.
From July 2-6, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies will conduct the Fourth of July DUI enforcement period to prevent impaired drivers from endangering themselves and others on the road. A total of 73 law enforcement agencies will increase patrols.
CDOT is also introducing a new campaign, Take Some Time, to encourage the use of smartphone breathalyzers as a way to prevent impaired driving.
So far in 2020, there have been 215 fatalities on Colorado roads. According to CDOT, 31 percent, have involved an impaired driver. During last year’s Fourth of July enforcement period, 311 DUI arrests were made.
"The Fourth of July is a moment when, together, we celebrate our country. While everyone is eager to get out and celebrate over the holiday weekend -- especially this year -- we have a duty to keep ourselves and each other safe at the same time," said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. "We tend to see more impaired driving around summer holidays like the one coming up, and this year it is imperative that we all do our part to end that dangerous trend. The simple things we do to stay safe--wearing masks, social distancing, or getting a sober ride--are the fine margin between a fun holiday and a preventable disaster."
In 2019, this was a decrease in total DUI arrests. Among the participating law enforcement agencies, Colorado Springs, Denver and Loveland police departments reported the highest DUI arrests.
Starting this weekend, Coloradans can expect to see CDOT’s latest DUI prevention campaign across the state on billboards, buildings, in liquor stores, and on social media reminding people to wait the appropriate amount of time between consuming alcohol and driving.
CDOT is teaming up with BACtrack to offer Colorado residents the chance to buy a personal breathalyzer for 50 percent off in an effort to make breathalyzers more accessible.
For more information, click here.
