RBC I St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday to celebrate Irish heritage, wear green clothing and for many, a customary time to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. From March 11 through March 18, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies combined efforts to arrest 396 impaired drivers for the annual St. Patrick’s Day The Heat Is On enforcement.
The 396 arrests were a decrease from last year, when 505 drivers were arrested.
“For some, alcohol consumption is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition but, unfortunately, many drivers risked their safety and the safety of others and got behind the wheel while impaired during the holiday week,” said Darrell Lingk, director of CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety. “We hope finding a safe and sober ride home becomes a standing tradition in the future for these drivers.”
A total of 79 agencies participated in the increased DUI patrols, with the Aurora Police Department (46 arrests), Denver Police Department (44 arrests) and Colorado Springs Police Department (32 arrest) recording the highest arrest totals. The Colorado State Patrol made 27 arrests
In addition to the enforcement, CDOT interacted with bar patrons at the Irish Snug in Denver and used smartphone breathalyzers to test the blood-alcohol content (BAC) of drinkers. Testers compared drinkers’ BACs to the legal limit of .05 (DWAI) and .08 (DUI) percent, and reminded them to use alternate transportation such as taxis and ride-hailing services. One hundred Irish Snug attendees were tested by CDOT representatives, with an average BAC level of .066.
From the 100 people sampled, the highest recorded BAC was .165; the lowest was .038.
“Many drivers are unaware that they can still be arrested on suspicion of DUI with a BAC level below the .08 limit,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
“If a driver shows signs of impairment and fails a roadside sobriety test, we proceed with the arrest.”
