4th of July DUI Enforcement Efforts Have Started in Colorado

100 Days of Heat DUI Crackdown Continues through 4th of July Holiday Weekend

Drivers across the state of Colorado can expect to see extra law enforcement officers out patrolling the roads looking for drunk drivers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. As part of the 100 Days of Heat DUI crackdown, over 76 different law enforcement agencies throughout the state will increase sobriety patrols and set up DUI checkpoints in an effort to catch drunk drivers. This 4th of July holiday crackdown began at 6 pm on July 1st and will continue through 3 am on Tuesday July 6th. The 100 Days of Heat DUI campaign started on Memorial Day weekend and will continue through Labor Day weekend.

Rangers with the Colorado State Parks will also be on the lookout for drunk drivers on the waterways. If you are operating a boat or other watercraft and your BAC is over the legal limit you will be charged with boating under the influence (BUI).

The extra DUI enforcement efforts by law enforcement for the 4th of July weekend come at the same time that a new law requiring tougher DUI penalties for drunk drivers with previous convictions take effect. On July 1st the newly passed legislation requiring repeat drunk driving offenders face mandatory jail and longer probation periods went into effect. If you are facing your second DUI offense then you are now looking at a minimum 10 day jail sentence and if you are looking at your third DUI or have additional priors then you are facing 60 days jail minimum. Repeat drunk drivers will also be required to serve at least 2 years of probation.