As summer winds down, many workers across the state of Colorado look forward to Labor Day weekend. It is a time to relax, have fun and be around friends and family. Unfortunately, the Labor Day holiday weekend is historically one of the most deadly weekends on Colorado roadways due to drunk drivers. Over the recent Labor Day weekend, the Colorado Department of Transportation reported that there were no fatal car accidents for the first time in recent history.
Successful DUI enforcement
The Colorado Department of Transportation said this was the first Labor Day weekend with no fatal traffic accidents since the agency began keeping records in 2007. According to records, there were about 8.5 fatal crashes in Colorado every Labor Day Weekend from 2007 to 2020. CDOT said last year’s Labor Day weekend had seven DUI-related fatalities, the highest out of any other holiday period. Officials credit this year’s lack of fatal accidents to improved DUI enforcement across the state.
Continued DUI enforcement
In hopes of continuing the positive trend, CDOT is collaborating with the Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies for the upcoming Fall Festivals DUI Enforcement Period. The chief of the Colorado State Patrol said there were 153 impaired-driving-related deaths across the state in 2021. He noted that increased DUI enforcement serves as a means of prevention to help individuals make better and safer decisions.
Getting charged with a DUI is something that no person wants to face. However, those who are charged should keep in mind that a charge is not a conviction. Those in Colorado who receive a DUI charge have options available to help with DUI defense. Consulting a knowledgeable and skilled litigator could prove invaluable to an individual’s case and ensure that his or her personal rights are protected.