by Heather Halpape Colorado Department of Transportation

Colorado DUI Enforcement Ignites this Fourth of July Weekend

Tougher penalties for repeat DUI offenders begin as 100 Days of Heat continues

July 1, 2010

Denver – As Coloradans make plans for the Fourth of July weekend, more than 76 law enforcement agencies across the state are firing up plans for sobriety checkpoints and increased DUI patrols to keep motorists safe from impaired drivers. The crackdown begins tonight at 6 p.m. and continues through 3 a.m. on Tuesday, July 6th. The effort is part of the summer-long “100 Days of Heat” campaign, an intensive DUI enforcement effort that began Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day.

“As we celebrate our nation’s independence, let’s remember that with freedom comes a responsibility to protect life by never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The Fourth of July is a time for barbeques and fireworks, not emergency room visits or a trip to jail. Do the right thing by planning ahead for a safe and sober ride.”

Starting today, a new law goes into effect requiring tougher penalties for repeat DUI offenders. It requires a minimum of 10 days in jail for a second DUI offense and 60 days in jail for a third and subsequent DUI offenses. Repeat DUI offenders also face a longer probation period of two years.

The risk of alcohol-related crashes is not just limited to the roadways. Colorado’s waterways are also a dangerous place when combined with drinking alcohol. Rangers with Colorado State Parks will be on the lookout for impaired boaters. “If you operate a watercraft while over the legal limit, you will be arrested and charged with BUI,” said Kris Wahlers, special investigator with Colorado State Parks. “Use the same precautions on water as you would on land — designate a sober driver.”

During the holiday weekend, signs will go up in several State Parks as a reminder of the DUI crackdown. Mobile billboards will also travel around Denver and Colorado Springs with a counter showing 3,811 DUI arrests have been made during enforcement periods since the beginning of the year. Two 50-foot banners are up on the portal entrances to the Eisenhower and Johnson tunnels. Messages will also appear in Coors Field during the popular fireworks games over the Independence Day weekend. On the roadways, warning messages will be displayed on the state’s electronic variable message signs throughout the weekend. Radio public service announcements will air and advertising will appear at gas stations and an RTD light rail train. The effort is paid for with federal grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

With 72 days remaining in the “100 Days of Heat” campaign, law enforcement agencies continue to work overtime conducting checkpoints, saturation patrols and increased patrols on roadways. To view agencies that have filed plans for the Fourth of July enforcement period, click here.

For more information about the Heat Is On, the latest enforcement plans and arrest results, visit www.HeatIsOnColorado.com