293 Colo. Drivers Arrested During St. Patrick’s Day DUI Patrols

ACROSS COLORADO – The total number of DUIs racked up during St. Patrick's Day weekend are in, and they're better than last year, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.

Between March 15-18, CDOT, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies arrested 293 impaired drivers, that's a 10 percent drop from the 323 arrests during last year’s Heat Is On campaign.

Additionally, more than 4,200 people signed the CDOT pledge to plan ahead for a sober ride, the agency said.

Here's the pledge: "Whether consuming alcohol, cannabis, or any combination of the two, I pledge to always plan for a sober ride and to never drive impaired."

The cost of a DUI in Colorado ends up costing a driver about $13,500 in legal fees and increased insurance costs, the agency said. As part of an awareness campaign, CDOT teamed up to donate $13,500 in free Lyft rides with AAA, the City and County of Denver, the Marijuana Industry Group (MIG) and Lyft. According to the agency, this year about $18,000 in Lyft credit ended up helping to Coloradans get a sober ride throughout the weekend, CDOT said in a statement.

This year's campaign focused on partiers who chose to drink alcohol and smoke recreational marijuana. According to the agency, in 2018, Colorado State Patrol issued a total of 5,144 DUI citations. Of those, 461 citations were for combined alcohol and marijuana impairment — a 112 percent increase from the previous year, CDOT said in a statement.

“With the accessibility of ride-hailing services and public transportation, it’s easier than ever for people to make the responsible decision and get a sober ride to their destinations,” said Darrell Lingk, director of CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety in a press release. “Unfortunately, some people still choose to drive impaired despite the serious safety risks and financial and legal consequences.”

Across Colorado, 108 agencies participated in the St. Patrick’s Day weekend enforcement.

Here are the top total DUI arrests for St. Paddy's Day weekend:

• Denver Police Department -31 arrests
• Colorado Springs Police Department - 26 arrests
• Aurora Police Department - 15 arrests
• Colorado State Patrol - 38 arrests.

“It’s unfortunate that people chose to drive impaired, but lives were potentially saved by taking them off the roads," said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the CSP.

The Heat Is On campaign will return for the Spring Events DUI enforcement beginning April 5. Last year, 1,932 impaired drivers were arrested during the five-week enforcement effort.

Related: JeffCo Announces Seatbelt Patrols In Mountain Towns

Related: St. Patrick's Day DUI Weekend: $13,500. Take The CDOT Pledge