COLORADO SPRINGS — Law enforcement agencies across Colorado have arrested 327 impaired drivers during this year's Thanksgiving DUI enforcement.
From Nov. 20-30, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol, and local statewide agencies united for the Thanksgiving DUI enforcement period. During the increased patrols, 103 agencies arrested 327 impaired drivers on Colorado roadways. During the same period last year, 99 agencies made 430 arrests.
"Appreciating the dangers of drinking and driving is not rocket science. Nevertheless, too many people continue to operate their vehicles while intoxicated or high," stated Chief Matthew Packard, Colorado State Patrol. "We hope the message is sobering for each impaired driver removed from the roads this past enforcement period. You never have to drive impaired, there are options."
During the Thanksgiving long weekend, CDOT said there were three fatal crashes resulting in three deaths.
The Colorado Springs Police Department made 37 arrests, Denver Police Department made 27 arrests, and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office made 27 arrests, recording the highest number of arrests during the Thanksgiving enforcement period. Colorado State Patrol made 71 arrests.
In a further attempt to help reduce impaired driving, CDOT is offering 200 Lyft ride credit codes valued at $10 every Thursday in December at 10 a.m. The “Gift of Lyft” promotion asks residents in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Thornton, areas where DUI fatalities were the highest in 2019, to sign a pledge to never drive impaired.
This week, ride credit codes will be available for Colorado Springs residents on a first-served basis for those who sign the Gift of Lyft Pledge.
The Heat Is On campaign runs throughout the year, with 16 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.
