Colorado is projected to exceed 16,000 DUI arrests by the end of 2025, according to data from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). This comes as state and local law enforcement agencies prepare for increased patrols during the New Year’s Eve holiday period.
The Heat Is On New Year’s Eve DUI enforcement campaign will run from December 26, 2025 through January 1, 2026. During this time, the Colorado State Patrol and 61 local law enforcement agencies will have additional officers on duty focused on identifying and arresting impaired drivers.
Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, said: “Driving under the influence — whether you’ve consumed alcohol or cannabis — puts you at risk of a DUI arrest or crash. This New Year’s Eve, law enforcement across the state is prepared to conduct saturation patrols and arrest impaired drivers. Don’t drop the ball this New Year’s holiday — choose to drive sober and encourage others to do the same.”
State data indicates that impaired driving citations are most common between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., coinciding with typical hours for New Year’s celebrations. Authorities emphasize that even low levels of alcohol can impair driving ability; individuals may be arrested for DUI even if their blood alcohol content is below 0.05% if impairment is observed.
To help reduce impaired driving incidents during this period, ride-share company Uber and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are offering an $8 discount using a special voucher code in Denver through January 2, while Regional Transportation District (RTD) buses and rail lines will be free from 7 p.m. on December 31 until 7 a.m. on January 1 thanks to a partnership with Molson Coors.
Darrell Lingk, Director of CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety, stated: “So far in 2025, 223 people have died on Colorado roads in crashes involving impaired drivers. That’s 223 lives cut short, families affected and friends lost. If you plan to drink, use a ride-share service, public transportation or designated driver to get home safely.”
Last year’s New Year’s Eve enforcement led to over two hundred arrests statewide; so far in all enforcement periods this year there have been nearly five thousand DUI arrests.
Under Colorado’s Expressed Consent Law, motorists automatically consent to toxicology testing after a DUI arrest but refusal rates have risen recently—a trend authorities say undermines road safety efforts.
The Heat Is On campaign operates throughout the year with targeted high-visibility enforcement around holidays and major events; more information about these initiatives can be found at HeatIsOnColorado.com as well as details about state DUI laws at NoDUIColorado.org.
To further educate motorists about DUIs and their consequences—including misunderstandings about Expressed Consent—CDOT has produced an informational video series available online featuring interviews with law enforcement officials and victims’ advocates.
