The Colorado State Patrol will conduct saturation patrols this weekend focused on impaired driving throughout Weld County.
The extra officer presence will run from Friday through early morning Sunday, according to a release from the Colorado State Patrol.
The three-day operation intends to raise awareness and encourage the public to find designated drivers or abstain from drinking an alcoholic beverage, smoking or ingesting cannabis products before driving.
Troopers will also be increasing enforcement on excessive speed and lane violations and lowering their overall tolerance with motorists driving “over the limit,” according to the release.
In 2023, Colorado State Troopers say they investigated 119 crashes involving impaired drivers in Weld County, making it one of the top counties for impaired-caused crashes in the state.
Of all crashes investigated by troopers in Weld County last year, 294 involved injuries or fatalities.
The top four casual factors for these crashes were impaired driving, lane violations such as weaving and unsafe lane changes, distracted driving and disregarding stop signs. The deadliest times were Thursday, Friday, and Saturday late afternoon through Sunday morning, according to the release.
The Colorado State Patrol urges residents who suspect or encounter an impaired driver to avoid the driver, pull over and contact the Colorado State Patrol by calling *CSP (*277), (719) 544-2424 or (303) 239-4501. Be prepared to provide a vehicle description, license plate number, location, direction of travel, driver description and the driving behavior being demonstrated. Report all emergencies to 911.
