The crackdown follows the accident-prone period between memorial and labor day, as state patrol increased the number of officers on the roadway and set up sobriety checkpoints.
By Juliana Krigsman
A DUI checkpoint on the highway. (Colorado Dept. of Transportation)
This Labor Day Colorado State Patrol had more officers patrolling roadways as part of the state’s annual “The Heat is on” campaign targeting drunk drivers. The Department of Transportation partnered with State Patrol to enforce sobriety checkpoints and increase the number of officers on the road.
“(Officers are) going to be looking for driving actions that would be considered to be impaired, such as weaving, failure to maintain a lane, following too closely, failure to yielded control devices and things such as that while they’re talking to those drivers,” said Trooper Gabriel Moltrer with the Colorado State Patrol.
The crackdown comes at the end of what is considered the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period during the summer when the most DUI-related crashes occur.
According to KKTV, last summer there were 221 traffic fatalities in Colorado during the 100 Deadliest Days, with 1/3 of those crashes involving a person driving under the influence.
“Drinking and driving is dangerous,”said Moltrer. “For themselves, or they can harm their loved ones, anyone that they could have in the car, even pedestrians that may be far along the road.”
According to the Colorado State Patrol, officers arrested 32 people last Labor Day for drinking and driving. The fine for a first offense DUI conviction is $13,530.
“If you are planning to use any type of intoxicating substance, plan ahead. Whether it be a ride share, public transportation, staying at someone’s residence, house, or even having that designated driver,” said Moltrer. “Plan ahead, have those in place. That way you can make sure that you and your family are arriving safely.”