St. Patrick’s Day is this weekend and the Colorado Department of Transportation put out a news release on Wednesday about enforcement periods and aides for avoiding DUIs. 

From March 14-20, CDOT will be supporting the Colorado State Patrol and 76 local law enforcement agencies for the St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement period. During this period, drivers may see sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement on duty that are dedicated to arresting impaired drivers, the release stated. 

For opportunities and encouragement of safe rides, CDOT will be distributing rideshare credits at this Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Denver, partnering with AAA Colorado, the release stated. 

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For anybody attending a St. Patrick’s Day party, CDOT urges all guests to have a safe and sober ride home. Driving under the influence, from alcohol or other drugs, can lead to lane drifting, excessive speed, slowed reaction time and other issues, the release stated. 

“It’s up to each of us to behave responsibly during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration by planning to use alternate forms of transportation,” said Colonel Matthew Packard, chief of the CSP. “Luck won’t get you home safely if you’re impaired behind the wheel. Never get into a car with someone you suspect is intoxicated. One bad choice could lead to a DUI, license suspension, serious injury or even loss of life.”

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 47 people were killed in DUI crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period in 2021. In Colorado during 2023, 276 DUI arrests were made during the St. Patrick’s Day enforcement period. This was a 60% increase from the year before, the release states. 

Since 2024 began, there have been 24 impaired driving-related traffic deaths and 935 DUI arrests made during the heightened enforcement periods in Colorado. The recent Presidents Week enforcement period ended with 300 arrests across 81 agencies. The highest number of arrests goes to the Denver Police Department with 41, Colorado Springs Police Department with 33 and the Aurora Police Department with 21, the release stated. 

“Driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis is never responsible — DUI crashes are always preventable,” said Darrell Lingk, the Office of Transportation Safety Director of CDOT. “This is all the more reason to seek out public transportation, rideshare services or a designated driver this holiday weekend.” 

Polyconsumption, the act of taking two different drugs at the same time, more commonly known as polydrug use, is on the rise. In this particular case, using alcohol and cannabis together enhances the effects of each substance, leading to symptoms that impair a person, the release stated, such as:

• Loss of coordination and problem-solving skills
• Distorted perception of time, distance and speed
• Slowed reaction time

Drivers under the influence of marijuana show only a modest impairment on actual road tests, users usually being able to compensate effectively. Users should wait at least three hours after the last intake of cannabis before driving. However, taking both substances together leads to worse impairment, as alcohol eliminates the ability of compensating strategies, a 2009 study from the National Library of Medicine showed. 

Spring Events is the next DUI enforcement period from April 4-24, which is 21 straight days of high visibility enforcement, the release stated. For yearly impaired driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit https://www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/assets/fatal-crash-data-city-county. 

For local law enforcement agency plans, visit https://socgov.my.salesforce-sites.com/tsreports/ and select an enforcement period.