Colorado State Patrol troopers flooded I-25 over Memorial Day weekend, rolling out a focused enforcement push against impaired and aggressive drivers along the busy north-south stretch. The high-visibility patrols and checkpoints were designed to stop dangerous behavior before it turned into crashes or fatalities.
Over two days of enforcement on Friday and Saturday, troopers made 162 traffic stops, arrested 20 drivers on suspicion of DUI, issued 21 speeding citations and 47 other citations, and responded to two DUI-related crashes, according to Denver7. The outlet also reported that the operation included a high-visibility sobriety checkpoint on the Western Slope along Highway 6 between Clifton and Palisade.
“Getting those drivers off the road can be the difference in someone being able to make it home,” Trooper Gabriel Moltrer said, emphasizing that the priority was to immediately remove suspected impaired motorists. The remark came as part of the weekend effort to prevent crashes and keep people safe, as reported by Denver7.
State-to-state patrol from Wyoming to New Mexico
The Memorial Day push was one piece of a broader “state-to-state” operation that stationed troopers along I-25 from the Wyoming border all the way down to New Mexico, giving agencies coordinated coverage across state lines. As reported by KKTV, officers said the enforcement would zero in on aggressive driving, impaired-driving enforcement, and roadside safety for anyone stopped on the shoulder.
Why Memorial Day is a critical weekend
Memorial Day marks the start of Colorado’s “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” a period when crashes and fatalities historically rise and agencies respond with stepped-up enforcement. According to CDOT, the department is backing Colorado State Patrol and dozens of local partners through the Heat Is On Memorial Day enforcement period, pushing the message that drivers should plan a sober ride and stay off the road if they are impaired.
How to report suspected impaired drivers
Colorado State Patrol urges motorists who spot a suspected impaired driver to pull over safely, then call *CSP (*277) or 911 and provide a vehicle description, license plate, and location so troopers can be dispatched. In a CSP press release, the agency notes that the *CSP hotline has been used for decades to deliver real-time reports that help troopers locate impaired drivers quickly and respond to dangerous situations, and the release includes contact details and tips on what to report.
Legal stakes for drivers
Under Colorado’s expressed consent rules and DUI statutes, suspected impaired drivers face arrest, chemical testing, and administrative penalties, and refusing a test can trigger additional consequences. CDOT materials also lay out the financial and legal fallout of a DUI, reinforcing officials’ warning that lining up a sober ride is far cheaper than dealing with a conviction.
Drivers on I-25 can expect extra patrols and possible checkpoints throughout the enforcement period, so planning a sober ride and leaving extra time for travel is strongly advised. Troopers say their goal is straightforward: fewer impaired drivers on the road and fewer preventable deaths as Colorado heads into summer.
