The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and law enforcement agencies throughout the state have increased DUI enforcement for the Halloween weekend, arresting drivers impaired by alcohol, cannabis or other drugs as part of CDOT’s The Heat Is On campaign. The enforcement aims to eliminate impaired driving related injuries and fatalities over Halloween weekend and could include sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to DUI enforcement.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 45 percent of all traffic fatalities on Halloween between 2011-2015 involved a drunk driving related crash, while 23 percent of all pedestrian fatalities on Halloween involved a drunk driver.

“Thousands of children and families will be out and about trick-or-treating and enjoying fall festivities this Halloween,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “We are dedicated to keeping them, and all Coloradans, safe from impaired drivers, and we have zero tolerance for those who choose to drive impaired, risking their lives and others”.

In October 2013, Andrea Milholm was on her way home from an all-you-can-drink Halloween party in downtown Denver when she hit three people, killing one. She was charged with DUI vehicular assault and vehicular homicide. “The word felon follows me everywhere I go,” Milholm said. “There is nothing more hollowing than knowing that somebody died because of something that you did.” Milholm’s story serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of impaired driving. View Andrea’s video here: youtu.be/yznKldLJTTQ and youtu.be/Dx_WMdPb1rE.

This year’s enforcement campaign includes 113 law enforcement agencies across the state.

Last year’s Halloween DUI enforcement resulted in 296 DUI arrests, with the Colorado State Patrol (50), Denver Police Department (30) and Aurora Police Department (27) citing the most arrests. 

“We are urging Coloradans to consume responsibly this weekend,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “There will be more pedestrians out on Halloween evening, so we’re asking motorists to drive alert and without distractions. If you do plan to drive, do so sober. There are many alternative options to driving drunk, including ride share programs, cabs and public transit.”