DUI checkpoints nab drunk drivers

It takes partnerships to keep drunk drivers from hurting people and causing property damage, and for years local municipalities have been working together during the summer to keep the streets safe.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) runs “The Heat Is On” campaign throughout the year in partnership with law enforcement agencies from the city, county and state levels. The campaign focuses on 12 specific high-visibility impaired-driving periods centered around holidays, particularly in summer when more people will be out on the road.

“These DUI checks are held in conjunction with various municipalities, and they come to us to get the funds to hire the extra officers needed,” said Sam Cole, CDOT communications manager. “Colorado has become one of the top places for DUI arrests, and this kind of campaign can have a real impact.”

The checkpoints are usually held late in the evening, when drunk drivers are more likely to be on the road, and are held in areas where law enforcement commonly sees these kinds of drivers come through.

“As part of The Heat Is On campaign, I try to pick Fridays (for checkpoints) because we see a lot of DUIs going into the weekend,” said Nathan Muller, a sergeant with the Lakewood Police Department. “The goal is to have really short contacts with people. We stop them to ask if they’ve been drinking, give out Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) literature and let them be on their way.”

With the legalization of marijuana, Cole said some municipalities are including prevention of driving while high as part of these DUI checkpoints, and that process will evolve along with technology.

By law, details about DUI checkpoints are posted in advance to give motorists the opportunity to opt out of encountering them, but Cole and Muller said knowing about the checkpoints in advance doesn’t stop drunk drivers from trying to get through.

“The point is to maximize awareness of these points as a deterrent and increase the risk of apprehension for those who consider driving drunk,” Muller said. “If I get through a checkpoint night without any DUIs, we’re doing great.”

Determining the impact of the program can be difficult, but stats from previous years’ stops provide a window. During this year’s Fourth of July weekend, CDOT worked with the Colorado State Patrol and 93 other agencies to arrest 271 impaired drivers –; down from 303 drivers in 2014.

“You’re taking someone of the road that could have caused something tragic to happen,” said Jacki Kelley, public information director with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. “Any time we can get an impaired driver off the streets, it’s a success.”