Heat Is On campaign ramps up with Memorial Day weekend sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols

Memorial Day weekend signifies the kick-off to summer with outdoor events, camping and barbeques. Through the Heat Is On campaign, The Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state are working together to ensure Coloradans stay safe over the holiday weekend by stepping up DUI enforcement starting May 24 through May 28.

“Law enforcement will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols this weekend to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries,” said Colonel Scott Hernandez, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Throughout the summer, law enforcement will work hard to protect lives and arrest those who choose to put themselves and others in harm’s way. The Colorado State Patrol enforces zero tolerance for impaired driving.”

“We launched the Heat Is On campaign 15 years ago in response to the summer months being the deadliest time on Colorado roads,” said Darrell Lingk, director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “Our goal is to educate the public on the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which can easily be avoided by designating a sober driver. We want Coloradans to enjoy the holiday weekend and to be safe while doing so.”

During the same enforcement period last year, there were 542 DUI arrests made statewide. To reduce the number of DUI arrests in Colorado, law enforcement will be out on the roads over the course of the weekend, making sure that Coloradans are protecting themselves and others by making safe travel decisions.

The Heat Is On campaign runs the entire year with 12 specific DUI enforcement periods centered on national holidays and large, public events. More details about the DUI enforcement plans and arrest results can be found at HeatIsOnColorado.com.