Colorado state troopers on ‘high alert’ for impaired drivers over Labor Day weekend

The Colorado State Patrol says its troopers will be on “high alert” over the Labor Day weekend.

The weekend is expected to increase travel on Colorado’s roads. Last year, troopers arrested 32 people over the holiday weekend for impaired driving, according to a news release from the State Patrol.

“You can quickly turn a weekend of relaxation into many months of stress by making the choice to drive impaired,” State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew Packard said in the release. “Even if you are fortunate to avoid a crash, the penalties associated with a (driving under the influence) conviction are timely and costly.”

For a first-offense driving under the influence conviction in Colorado, a person can expect to spend an average of $13,500, according to the news release. Prior driving under the influence convictions in other states count as prior convictions in Colorado. A first-time driving under the influence incident that causes injury or death is an automatic felony in Colorado, even with no prior criminal history.

The best way to avoid the long-lasting impacts of a driving under the influence conviction is to not get one in the first place, according to the news release. Anyone planning to drink or consume other intoxicating substances over the long weekend should plan for a sober ride or a designated driver.