Colorado State Patrol just declared war on drunk drivers for this year’s big game. Extra troopers will flood roads across the state all weekend in one of the biggest enforcement pushes of the year.
The numbers from last year are impossible to ignore. Statewide, CSP made 52 DUI arrests during big game weekend alone. That single weekend accounted for nearly one-sixth of all DUI arrests CSP made in the entire previous year.
Extra Patrols Hit Every Corner of Colorado
Sergeant Ivan Alvarado told KJCT that CDOT is funding additional patrols through the “The Heat Is On” campaign. Every troop office from Grand Junction to Denver to the Eastern Plains will have more officers working.
“You will see way more troopers than normal,” Alvarado said. “We’re treating this like a holiday weekend because that’s exactly what it turns into for a lot of people.”
The extra patrols start Friday night and run through Monday morning. CSP says they will be especially visible on major highways and in areas with high concentrations of bars and party venues.
Why the Big Game Is So Dangerous on Colorado Roads
Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the deadliest days for alcohol-related crashes nationwide. NHTSA data shows a sharp spike in drunk-driving fatalities between 6 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday every February.
Colorado mirrors that national trend. The 52 arrests last year matched the number made during Memorial Day weekend, which is traditionally one of the worst periods for impaired driving in the state.
One weekend. Fifty-two families who almost didn’t make it home.
How to Celebrate Without Risking Your Life or License
CSP has a simple message: plan your safe ride home before you take your first drink.
Here are the safest options Colorado party-goers are using this year:
- Designate a sober driver who doesn’t drink at all
- Use Uber, Lyft, or local taxi services (many offer big game discounts)
- Take RTD buses or light rail (extra service running in Denver metro)
- Crash at the host’s house if you’ve been drinking
- Call a sober friend or family member
Many bars and restaurants in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction are partnering with ride-share companies to offer free or discounted rides home again this year.
What Happens If You Get Caught
Colorado has some of the toughest DUI laws in the country. A first offense now carries:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- $1,000+ in fines and court costs
- 9-month license suspension
- Mandatory alcohol classes
- Possible ignition interlock requirement
Even one drink over the limit can cost you thousands and change your life forever.
Spot a Drunk Driver? Colorado Wants You to Call *277
CSP is begging people to report dangerous drivers immediately.
If you see someone swerving, driving way under the speed limit, or braking randomly, pull over safely and dial *277 on your cell phone.
Troopers say they need:
- Vehicle description and license plate if possible
- Direction of travel
- Exact location
- What the dangerous behavior is
“That call could save a family,” Alvarado said. “We’ve had people call in a drunk driver who turned out to be heading straight toward a school bus stop. Those calls matter.”
Colorado roads will be packed with football fans this weekend, but they will also be packed with state troopers who have one mission: get everyone home alive.
The game is just ninety minutes of entertainment. Getting home safely to your family is what really matters.
Don’t let one bad decision turn the best weekend of the year into the worst day of someone’s life.
What are you doing to stay safe this big game weekend? Drop your plans in the comments and let’s keep each other accountable.
