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New Year's DUI busts set record

By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 9, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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Police statewide arrested 569 drunken drivers during the New Year's holiday, the largest number since the Colorado Department of Transportation kicked off its DUI enforcement campaign in 1998.

As of Jan. 1, offenders will face stiffer penalties and fines up to $10,000. Under a new law, they also could lose their driver's licenses for nine months.

But the law also allows first- time DUI offenders a chance to get their licenses back after one month if they install a device that prevents the vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver's breath, said Heather Halpape, manager of safety programs for the CDOT.

The State Patrol and 52 law enforcement agencies participated in the New Year's crackdown, setting up saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints.

This year's record arrests occurred between 6 p.m. Dec. 30 and Jan. 5, eclipsing 473 arrests in 2007 and 449 in 2006 during the same enforcement period.

Comments

  • January 9, 2009

    7:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike_In_Hartsel writes:

    If the government had put away problem drunk drivers instead of a catch and release program, the bleeding heart liberals wouldn't be lowering the blood content level to such silly lows. Most people can have a few drinks and drive safely. Thanks to the absolutists one drink can now land someone in jail.

    Driving under the influence is not a crime. Driving drunk is. Raise the limit and stop punishing the wrong people.

  • January 9, 2009

    7:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    Mike_In_Hartsel,
    The ultra conservative MADD will be looking for YOU..

  • January 9, 2009

    8:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Iron writes:

    Hartsel...You're kidding, right?

  • January 9, 2009

    8:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Deepstroke924 writes:

    I know we need to keep the drunks off the road, but come on, this is just another shot of the police harassing the citizens of this state, I am sure there are more serious crimes going on and the real bad guys are getting away. I bet when the police were called to a real crime going on, either they didnt show up or it took them a couple or more hours to do so. I agree with Mike that it only takes a drink or two for them to arrest you, and if you only did have one beer, you will be harassed for a good 30-45 minutes before they let you go, if they do. The ploice act like they are perfect, but they also break many traffic rules and they get away with it. Something wrong with this picture...

  • January 9, 2009

    8:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Iron writes:

    Deepthroat... You're kidding, right? If not, how's the view from where you have your head up at?

  • January 9, 2009

    8:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    colorado_blue writes:

    What about Hartsel's comment what so unbelievable and outlandish that made you think he was kidding?

  • January 9, 2009

    8:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Deepstroke924 writes:

    Mr. Iron, you must be living in a fantasy world because that is how it is, if you pulled your head out then maybe you would see what is really going on...

  • January 9, 2009

    8:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Iron writes:

    Deepthroat, I don't have any problems with the law, or those who enforce it. Breaking any traffic violations will attract the attention of the police. Punishment to follow.

    Too much attention from the law? How's that working for ya' big guy?

  • January 9, 2009

    8:51 a.m.

    Deepstroke924 writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • January 9, 2009

    9:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Clarence_Boddicker writes:

    We gotta ban cell phone use while driving, that'll help!

  • January 9, 2009

    10:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    tbozrulez writes:

    New Years Eve is a holiday only for law enforcement these days.

  • January 9, 2009

    10:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Tunlrat writes:

    Next time think before you talk....

    Deepstroke924 writes:"I know we need to keep the drunks off the road,...." So what's the problem? We have no idea if the people arrested were bareley over the limit or completely hammered. When the Police enforce laws that people don't agree with, the response is always "They should handle more serious crimes instead of harassing people". Well, when you consider what the affect that DUI's, driving drunk, driving impaired what ever you want to call it, has on the community at large, isn't it serious? Look at all those little signs posted all over the streets with people's names on them that died due to drunk or "impaired" drivers. The law may not be what you want it to be, but either change it, follow it, or break it. It's always your choice.

  • January 9, 2009

    10:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    sheepherder writes:

    I think what depstroke fails to acknowledge as well is that police don't make the laws. So is the legislature using the police to harass citizens, is that what you are saying?

  • January 9, 2009

    10:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    fastnloose writes:

    Set up check points for illegals and those that have warrants they have not tended to.If we are stopping people who have had 1 or 2 beers,let's make a clean sweep.I see the illegals and real criminals don't have the money to pay the heavy fines.Just follow the money.

  • January 9, 2009

    11:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rob22 writes:

    There is no question that driving drunk is a very bad thing. The problem is that as we keep lowering the blood alcohol limit, we are going after anyone who has a single drink rather that the really dangerous people. This is the same logic that lead to prohibition. I think the law has gone too far.

  • January 9, 2009

    11:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TIMMAH writes:

    Why can't we use the proceeds the state makes off all these DUI's and keep the RTD buses running all night on weekends and drinking holidays?

    Furthermore, I think cops should be like fire fighters; they should only respond to calls. If a concerned citizen sees a drunk drinver, they should call the police. Having these cops troll the streets looking for trouble is wrong. They should be cleaning up trash and painting over graffiti when they have down time, instead of sitting in parking lots drinking coffee.

  • January 9, 2009

    11:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    squeakywheel writes:

    You all are kidding, right?

  • January 9, 2009

    12:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gallegoi writes:

    Hey, how is cracking down on drunk drivers harrassment, Deepstroke? I think you may change your opinion after a drunk driver smashes into you on the road. You should have expected the responses you are getting with such a stupid comment.
    Go with it....no need to argue about it.
    I think raising those fines will really make people think twice now. I know I will when I drink.

  • January 9, 2009

    12:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    johnson writes:

    I don't know about Denver, but many small communities in Co. pay off-duty police a bonus for every drunk driving conviction. Need a couple extra bucks? Fire up the cruiser and start pullin' 'em over Friday night. "You had snow on your license plate sir". "You failed to signal 100 feet before the turn". My wife actually got that one. She asked the cop to please step off a hundred feet so she could get it right next time. A buddy of mine had a few and decided to walk home. He came to a checkpoint and they were about to arrest him for evasion of arrest by walking!!! A higher ranking officer finally let him go after 20 minutes in the back seat. Another friend was pulled over for "worming". The cop said he was weaving from lane marker to lane marker but not actually crossing the line. He had to do the "side of the road boogie", even tho he doesn't drink. But he did get a ticket for "worming". I saw it. The judge was laughing pretty hard when he threw it out.

  • January 9, 2009

    1:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Pikentrout writes:

    The cops only police those crimes that are revenue generating....aka...things that fund them to ensure thay have a job in a few months...hence the cameras for lights and speeding...you can install a 100 of them...next thing you know...we have a new 100 cops...then install another 100 and get another 100...revenue generating crimes are what is enforced.

  • January 9, 2009

    1:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    I wonder if all of these posters who are griping about the crackdown are members of Ted "The Blob" Kennedy's extended family?

    None of these P and M'ers must have had a family member or close friend murdered by a Ted Kennedy wannabe.

    Scott

  • January 9, 2009

    3:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    fubarcirca1985 writes:

    I think DUI should be based on ability to pass road side tests, not BAC. Some people would probably fail when sober haha. Its a little to much that .04 is a DWAI

  • January 9, 2009

    4:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Deepstroke924 writes:

    To Gallegoi, it is not a stupid comment, it is a true comment. The police are looking for revenue and they know exactly where to find it, I agree that people that are smashed and cannot drive should not be on the road, but the cops should not pull someone over because they are the only car on the road, that is harassment if the driver is sober and doing nothing wrong.

  • January 9, 2009

    5:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    vendari01 writes:

    Deepstroke, DUI is against the law, and it endangers me and mine. I will not blame the police for using officers to catch them, I blame the fools who insist on drinking, then jumping in their cars. Personally, I don't have a problem with license suspension to begin with, and revocation/jail time for a second offence or driving under suspension. Get the drunks off of the road, and that will free officers to concentrate on other crimes. When we stop acting as though serious driving offences aren't crimes, maybe there won't have to be so many traffic cops!

  • January 9, 2009

    11:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mljones06 writes:

    How about they show names & photos on their website. Just like Denver's 'John's TV'. You can hope that if people know that their groggy-eyed-mugs will show up online for family, friends and employers to see, they may keep it in the last sober section of the brain. They could even list their BAC under the mug.
    I'd like to see how many arrests were from the City of Denver vs. the rest of the metro area. I'd like to see if more came from people leaving their local watering-hole's in surrounding cities, since there are fewer cabs & bus-lines.