In 2016, over 7,000 people were arrested during the “Heat Is On” campaign in Colorado. This campaign had 12 periods during which it ran. This campaign increases overall DUI enforcement, resulting in more stops and arrests. Two-hundred and seventy-two people who were impaired were caught on New Year’s last year, a slight reduction from the 396 in 2015. In total, 102 agencies participated in the campaign, with 30 arrests taking place in Aurora and another 17 taking place in Denver.
The campaign’s goal is to reduce the risk of impaired drivers on the roads. Impaired drivers are a main cause behind deaths on Colorado’s roads, and they create an obstacle that prevents the state from reaching a zero-traffic-death standard.
If you notice that someone is driving dangerously, don’t look away. Take the time to get the person’s license plate number and to call the police. Taking someone off the road while impaired is vital; it could save lives and help the individual get help for alcohol abuse or addiction. If it’s a one-off mistake, the individual may simply learn to make better decisions. In any case, the penalties for a DUI are much less than they would be if someone was hurt or killed in an accident with an intoxicated driver.
Colorado has two blood alcohol concentration limits. The first is for driving while ability impaired, which begins at .05 percent. The second is for driving under the influence, which begins at .08 percent. If you’re hit by someone with a BAC above .05, you have a strong case against him or her for negligence.
Source: Colorado Department of Transportation, “New Year Means Big Problems for 272 Impaired Drivers,” accessed Dec. 27, 2017