As the festive air fills the streets of Colorado, law enforcement is bracing for a yearly surge in impaired driving and its grave repercussions. Doubling down on the sentiments often echoed during the season, the Colorado State Patrol cautions against the decision to drive under the influence, a choice that annually steers many towards an avalanche of financial and emotional turmoil.
Citing the sobering figures of 2023, where troopers arrested over 4,100 motorists for DUI with a third of traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers, the Colorado State Patrol's focus on prevention is stark. According to Colorado State Patrol, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol Matthew C. Packard highlighted the consequences. “If the thought of killing someone doesn’t stop you from driving while impaired, consider the financial impact a DUI will have on your life,” he said, underscoring that fines, legal fees, and lost time are just the tip of the iceberg for those convicted.
A DUI in Colorado doesn't come cheap, with the average first-time offender shelling out $13,530 when factoring in all the associated costs. Alongside the more obvious financial hits like court expenses, towing, and treatment fees, a misstep as simple as a few drinks can spiral into years of inflated auto insurance rates, easily forgotten in the moment of holiday merriment.
Tallying the costs, the interlock devices mandated for nine months post-conviction leave the offender footing a hefty bill, including installation, removal, and monthly fees that hit harder for those with modern cars and their complex wiring systems. As the holidays can strain wallets without the added weight of a DUI, the Colorado State Patrol insists on planning for a sober ride, making good choices well in advance of the festive intoxication.
