AURORA | Colorado law enforcement agencies are stepping up patrols across the state to catch drunken drivers during the Halloween weekend and are warning drivers to stay sober if they plan on traveling for the holiday.
“If the thought of risking the lives of others isn’t a motivator to stop driving intoxicated, the cost and inconvenience of a DUI could be,” Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard said in a news release. “Plan a safe ride before you start. It’s poor choices, like driving impaired, that can haunt you.”
The enforcement period announced in the Colorado Department of Transportation news release will last from Oct. 26-Nov. 1.
Police across the state arrested 134 people for impaired driving during last year’s Halloween DUI enforcement period, the release said. First-time DUI offenders pay an average of $13,530 when they go to court and spend at least 170 hours dealing with the consequences, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
“Planning a sober ride ahead of any holiday festivities is simple and effective,” CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk said in the release. “With all the resources at our disposal to call a safe ride, there’s never an excuse to drive under the influence.”
So far, in 2023, 169 people have died in crashes involving an impaired driver, and 4,258 people have been arrested during DUI enforcement periods associated with holidays and special events.
Aurora Police Department spokeswoman Sydney Edwards said the department wasn’t planning any special DUI enforcement operations for Halloween as of Wednesday.