CDOT campaign: Local law enforcement efforts to prevent impaired driving during holidays - Greeley Tribune

In an effort to ensure safe roads while people travel for the upcoming holidays, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are teaming up to increase DUI enforcement to prevent impaired driving, according to a CDOT news release.

As December marks National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, “The Heat Is On Holiday Parties” DUI enforcement has 82 participating counties across the state. In addition, all local law enforcement will have more sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement from Dec. 15-29.

So far, a CDOT Traffic Safety Reporting Portal indicated three DUI-related arrests in the state have occurred during the enforcement period.

Many local agencies including –– the Colorado State Patrol Troop 3A Evans, Eaton Police Department, Frederick Police Department, Greeley Police Department, Platteville Police Department, Severance Police Department and Windsor Police Department –– have plans to increase patrol around the holidays.

Additionally, the Erie Police Department is using a saturation patrol tactic to keep travelers safe from impaired drivers.

CDOT reported since the beginning of this year, there have been 620 fatalities on Colorado roads, and 36% of the incidents involved an impaired driver.

in Weld County, there have been 11 impaired-related fatal crashes and 16 people have been killed in impaired-related crashes this year, according to a CDOT fatal crashes report.

A different campaign, “Ultimate Party Host,” was launched to protect travelers from drunk and drugged drivers during December, a month that has a higher average crash rate than others. The campaign offers free Uber rides to or from holiday gatherings, which must be used ion a December night.

However, all the codes have been claimed at this time due to the immense amount of people utilizing the service. Over 600 people claimed the discount rides and the $10,000 in ride credits offered were all used in one week, according to the release.

“The holidays are a time for joyful memories with our friends, families and communities, not mournful ones,”said Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “With all the options available, driving impaired should be a ‘thing of the past.’ So for those unwilling to do the right thing and make a plan before the party begins, our enforcement periods are intended as a holiday gift: to help prevent unnecessary tragedy caused by you on the road.”

The week of Thanksgiving also had an enforcement period where 86 participating law enforcement agencies made 155 arrests, CDOT reported. The next enforcement period will take place for the New Year’s Eve weekend, from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2.

Last December, the Greeley Police Department made 24 DUI arrests, according to Colorado Crime Statistics. In total, the agency arrested 125 impaired drivers in the last five years during the month of December.

Last year’s Holiday Parties DUI enforcement period resulted in the arrest of 349 impaired drivers in Colorado, the release stated.

Thus far, Colorado data showed that 15,040 DUI arrests have been made in 2021. CDOT indicated 20,000 people are arrested annually for impaired driving across Colorado, which is an average of 55 DUIs every day.

As such, CDOT and law enforcement agencies ask drivers to never get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The ultimate goal is to push toward zero deaths on the roads statewide by continuing to make impaired driving prevention a priority.

“Impaired driving continues to threaten the safety of everyone on Colorado roads,” CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk said in the release. “We want everyone to travel safely so they can celebrate the holidays with their loved ones. Sober driving is the responsibility of everyone that gets behind the wheel.”

A partnership between The American Automobile Association and Lyft also launched a Tow-to-Go program, available from Dec. 24 through Jan. 3. As a last-resort safety net, the service takes impaired drivers and tows their vehicles to safer locations within a 10-mile radius at no cost. The identity of anyone who takes part in the service will remain confidential as an effort to encourage impaired drivers to use this safety option. For more information, go to https://aaa.com/towtogo.

CDOT’s Heat Is On campaign runs throughout the year and has 16 high-visibility impaired driving enforcement periods taking place around national holidays or large events. The department’s Highway Safety Office provides funding for impaired driving enforcement, education and awareness campaigns to law enforcement across the state.

To learn more about the campaign, which includes enforcement plans, arrests and safety tips, go to HeatIsOnColorado.com.

For more information about DUI laws in Colorado, go to NoDUIColorado.org.

source: https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/12/20/cdot-campaign-local-law-enforcement-efforts-to-prevent-impaired-driving-during-holidays

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