The unofficial start of summer kicks off this Memorial Day Weekend with a renewed push to enforce the state’s impaired driving laws, announced the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Local law enforcement agencies across the state and the Colorado State Patrol will be out in force over the weekend as part of the Heat Is On campaign with increased DUI patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints. The Memorial Day Weekend enforcement period begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 25 and ends at 3 a.m. Tuesday, May 29.

“As families venture out on the roads this weekend for the start of vacations, we want to keep them safe from impaired drivers," said Pamela Hutton, CDOT Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety. “Unfortunately, we are entering the deadliest time of year on our highways. Thirty-eight percent of fatal alcohol-related crashes in Colorado occur in the months of June, July, August and September.”

According to preliminary data, 41 percent of all traffic fatalities in Colorado last year involved alcohol, resulting in the deaths of 217 people. Nearly 76 percent of those fatalities were men, and 17% were under age 21. Sixteen percent of alcohol-related crashes involved motorcycles, and 13 percent were pedestrians.

The following counties had the most alcohol-related fatalities in 2006: Jefferson (28), Arapahoe (22), Adams (18), Denver (14), Larimer (12), Weld (12), Mesa (12), El Paso (9), Douglas (8), La Plata (6) and Pueblo (6).

Memorial Weekend also marks the start of DUI Checkpoint Colorado. Ten law enforcement agencies will receive grants from CDOT to conduct more than 150 sobriety checkpoints every week throughout the summer.

The Colorado State Patrol will have every uniformed officer on duty this weekend for the Colorado Target Zero campaign, which sets a goal of zero vehicular fatalities over the holiday weekend. This will be the fourth year in a row CSP is implementing Target Zero during Memorial Day Weekend. During the same period last year, there were six reported traffic fatalities, but none were attributed to DUI.

"We have zero tolerance for impaired drivers, aggressive/distracted drivers and speeders," said Colonel Mark Trostel, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. "The Colorado State Patrol will have every available officer out on the roadways, including myself, in an effort reach our target of zero traffic-related fatalities. This is fair warning for all motorists to make responsible driving choices, follow the law and to always remember to buckle up yourself and your passengers."

In addition to DUI enforcement announcements, CDOT, law enforcement agencies and Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will host Rose Remembrance ceremonies dedicated to the victims of DUI. The tributes will take place in Denver on May 23 at 7 p.m. at Sloan’s Lake, and in Grand Junction on May 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Mesa County Courthouse, and in Colorado Springs on May 24 at 7 p.m. at Prospect Lake. More than 259 yellow roses will be on display representing the average number of lives lost in drunken driving crashes each year since the Heat Is On campaign started in 1996.

Family members and friends of those killed by drunk drivers will be invited to release the yellow roses into the lakes in Denver and Colorado Springs. Law enforcement officers will also participate in memory of fallen comrades and DUI victims statewide. The message: “Every Rose Tells a Story” of a life lost to DUI.

“Every year there are more than 200 DUI victims in Colorado,” said Emily Tompkins, Executive Director of MADD Colorado. “These Rose Remembrance events highlight the fact that each life lost to DUI has its own tragic story, and is more than just a traffic statistic. It is our hope that anyone planning on drinking alcohol this weekend, or any weekend for that matter, plans use designated drivers or other safe, sober transportation.”

Fifty-seven local Colorado law enforcement agencies, including Park County, will receive LEAF grants for increased DUI enforcement throughout the summer.

For more information on the DUI enforcement period and to view enforcement plans by agency, visit www.dot.state.co.us/trafficsafety/ and click Reports on the header. Choose Enforcement Period Plans, select Summer Checkpoints 2007 and Memorial Day Weekend 2007 and click Report. To view DUI arrests totals after the enforcement period starts, click Reports on the header. Choose Heat is on! Enforcement, select Memorial Day Weekend 2007 and click View Report.