If you are planning on attending a Fourth of July barbecue or any other related festivity over the coming days, you better be prepared for extra DUI enforcement.
In fact, The Colorado State Patrol (CSP), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and local law enforcement departments have already started their Fourth of July DUI enforcement period, which includes increased police patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
Starting last Friday, June 29, and running through Thursday, July 5, these Colorado law enforcement agencies will be teaming up to target impaired drivers. This particular DUI crackdown is part of Colorado’s “The Heat is On” DUI enforcement campaign, which consists of several increased enforcement periods throughout the year.
Summer DUI Blitz ends, and the Fourth of July crackdown begins
If the recently completed Summer DUI Blitz is any indication, drivers can expect a large police presence on the roads this Fourth of July.
Indeed, as of today, police are reporting that the Summer DUI Blitz, which ran from June 15 to June 25, resulted in 584 DUI arrests. And even though this number may still rise as more police departments report in, it is already a 15 percent increase from last year.
So if you have a couple drinks this Fourth of July, make sure to arrange a designated driver — or risk a DUI arrest. If you find yourself caught up in this Fourth of July DUI crackdown, however, it is crucial to remember that you still have rights, including the right to refuse roadside sobriety tests.