(COLORADO)—May is often the transition month in Colorado, with “mud season” in the high country and warmer temperatures feeling steadier along the front range. As your event calendar picks up, imagine what it would be like to no longer have a driver’s license. Getting to that graduation party, barbeque or even work would depend on public transit or a ride from a friend.
A first-time DUI in Colorado comes with a license suspension of nine months, and Colorado State Troopers want you to avoid nine months of headaches by taking a moment to plan for one sober ride per celebration outside of your residence.
“The time spent on arranging a ride-share, making a plan to stay over at the location of the party or finding a designated driver is nothing when you compare it to the impact a DUI could have,” explains Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Impaired drivers account for 30% of Colorado’s traffic fatalities. The penalties are steep because they deserve to be.”
The Colorado State Patrol will launch a summer-long campaign called “Don’t Underestimate Impairment” from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, a time period known by traffic safety experts as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. The public can expect a no-tolerance approach to impaired driving from our daily enforcement patrols, in addition to monthly DUI Task Force Operations, DUI checkpoints and a statewide education campaign.
According to 2024 Colorado State Patrol crash investigation statistics, May was the top month troopers investigated injury and fatal crashes involving an impaired driver. Looking at the entire year, the top five counties where these injury and fatal crashes investigated by the Patrol occurred in 2024 were:
- Adams (57)
- El Paso (54)
- Jefferson (44)
- Weld (43)
- Larimer (30)
In addition to a no-tolerance approach to enforcement with impaired drivers, the Colorado State Patrol is highlighting the consequences an average Colorado driver experiences after being arrested for DUI as part of their “Don’t Underestimate Impairment” campaign during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Making a good decision “in the moment” while already intoxicated is unlikely. Don’t underestimate the consequences of this choice, and plan ahead for a sober ride.
###
ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE PATROL
Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the protection of the Governor and other dignitaries, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more.