Denver – Thousands of drivers will take to the roads this Fourth of July weekend for festivities across the state, and Colorado law enforcement agencies are firing up plans for increased DUI patrols and sobriety checkpoints to help keep motorists safe from impaired drivers. The effort is part of the summer-long “100 Days of Heat” campaign, an intensive DUI enforcement effort that continues through Labor Day.

“The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate our country’s freedom, but ironically many people will jeopardize their freedom and put others at risk by drinking and driving,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “We will be out throughout the holiday weekend to protect Coloradan’s right to safe and sober roadways. Enjoy the holiday, but please remember to designate a sober driver and always buckle up.”

The risk of alcohol-related traffic crashes often escalates over the Fourth of July weekend, with people across the state gathering for fireworks, backyard barbeques, attending sporting events and going to Colorado State Parks for picnics and boating.

“Boating and booze don’t mix,” said Kris Wahlers, special investigator with Colorado State Parks. “If you are drinking alcohol on our lakes, reservoirs and rivers, you are greatly increasing the risk of injury or death in a water-related accident. Our rangers will be on the lookout for impaired boaters, and if you’re over the legal limit while operating a watercraft, you will be arrested and charged with a BUI. We want everyone to enjoy the beauty of Colorado by land and water, but do so safely.”

The new high-stakes gaming limits and 24-hour-gambling that go into effect July 2nd also mean more people will be traveling to and from Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Law enforcement agencies in those areas plan to be out in force.

“We will conduct increased patrols and saturation patrols along Highways 67 and 24 throughout the holiday weekend,” said Corp. Andrew Baker, Teller County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to warn all gamblers that we have a zero tolerance for drinking and driving. If they are planning on drinking alcohol, they should plan ahead by designating a sober driver or making reservations to spend the night.”

Since the “100 days of Heat” campaign kicked off on Memorial Weekend, statewide law enforcement agencies have made more than 832 DUI arrests, including 233 arrests made at sobriety checkpoints. Preliminary reports indicate that at least nine people were killed in alcohol-related crashes between May 22 and June 29, 2009. During that same time period last year, 21 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes.

“We certainly hope that the intensive ‘Heat Is On’ enforcement over the past 30 days is having an impact on lowering the number of people killed by drunk drivers in Colorado,” said Michael Nugent, manager of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “But in order to save more lives, there must continue to be a shift in public perception that impaired driving is a crime that is unacceptable.”

With 70 days remaining in the “100 Days of Heat” campaign, law enforcement continue to work overtime conducting checkpoints, saturation patrols and increased patrols on roadways. Law enforcement agencies have filed plans for the Fourth of July enforcement period, which begins at 6 p.m. July 2nd and ends at 3 a.m. on July 6th.