Traveling home from holiday parties is a slam-dunk certainty for high numbers of Colorado residents during the winter holiday season.
And here’s something just as certain: Colorado State Patrol troopers and local police officers across the state will be strategically implanted on streets and highways and closely watching motorists from now through New Year’s Day.
And drivers know why, of course, noting immediately that enforcement officials don’t just want to be in close proximity to pass along their best wishes to revelers.
Indeed, they’re watching motorists for driving behaviors that will give them probable cause to stop vehicles and conduct DUI investigations.
If a recently concluded drunk driving initiative termed “The Heat Is On” is any indication of continuing enforcement vigor, drivers had better take all due care over the next couple weeks while behind the wheel on Colorado roads.
Here’s why. During the Heat campaign, which was conducted from December 4 to December 14 statewide, almost 600 drivers were arrested for impaired driving.
Extrapolating that is easy enough, to wit: On average, scores of drivers were pulled over every day during the operation.
And it turns out that the concluded Heat campaign was only a phase-1 effort. A renewed emphasis will commence from December 30, with heightened enforcement slated to continue through the first several days of next year.
The Heat program is multi-faceted, in that it encompasses saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and increased numbers of enforcement officials on state roads.
Drivers need to think about that, being mindful of the enhanced enforcement environment existing throughout the holiday season.
We wish all our readers happy holidays and a safe driving experience.
