CSP Ramping Up DUI Patrols Over The New Year’s Weekend

Be smart this holiday. Don't start the New Year in jail.

Last year in Colorado nearly 400 persons were arrested from DUI over the New Years weekend. Look for increased patrols, checkpoints, and law enforcement on the roadways starting Saturday the 29th and continuing through the New Year.

Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement are certainly stepping up their game this year. Even with all that it's nothing compared to what our neighbors to the west have planned. Starting Sunday, December 30th Utah is lowering its blood alcohol content limit from .08 to .05! When I read that my jaw dropped! For some, that's like two beers! Utah will now have one of the strictest DUI laws in the nation!  A reminder, in Colorado "driving while impaired" is considered .05 to .079 and if you blow a .08 or higher its a DUI offense.

Lucas Johnson, Trooper with Colorado State Patrol says, "our goal is to increase visibility so that if people care about making a bad decision they’re going to see a trooper, they’re going to see a police officer....there’s no excuse for driving impaired and you will receive no tolerance from us on driving impaired.”

There are consequences if you get arrested. Not only are their fines, but you could also lose your license and your insurance costs will skyrocket if you can even get insurance at all. If someone is hurt or killed in a collision as a result of your driving impaired the situation is much more serious as it then becomes a felony offense.

Just so you know, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention every day in the US 29 people die in a motor vehicle crash involving an alcohol impaired driver. That's about one person every 50 minutes. Remember to play it safe this New Year's Eve and don't drive if you've been drinking or use a taxi, Uber, or Lyft type service.

Credit: NBC11News