FEWER PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DUI OVER ST. PATRICK’S DAY HOLIDAY

Green beer may be a hallmark of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Colorado, but too much alcohol can lead to a drunk driving arrest if a person isn’t careful. Police across the state generally have a stronger presence on holidays where alcohol consumption is common, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. In fact, police across the state made hundreds of DUI arrests over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

Across Colorado, 293 motorists were arrested for DUI from March 15 through March 18. While this number seems high, it is lower than the number of people arrested for DUI during the same period in 2018, which saw 323 arrests. The enforcement period was part of the state’s “The Heat Is On” campaign.

The reduction in DUI arrests may be an indicator that more people are pledging not to drive drunk. A promotion between the Colorado Department of Transportation and the ride-sharing service Lyft gave out over $18,000 in ride credits over St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Most Coloradans drive responsibly and find alternative modes of transportation if they are too intoxicated to drive. However, some may have still found themselves swept up in this recent initiative. If so, they will need to develop a solid defensive strategy. It is possible that some of those arrested weren’t intoxicated, or that police performed an improper search and seizure during the stop. It could even be the case that there was no reason to pull the driver over in the first place. What defense to employ depends on the facts of one’s case, and no two cases are the same. Therefore, those accused of DUI will want to make sure they understand how the law applies to their specific situation, so they can make informed decisions moving forward.