Three DUI checkpoints in metro Denver area Friday night

Denver law enforcement agencies will place DUI checkpoints in Denver, Lakewood, and Arvada tonight that officials say will remove impaired drivers from the road before they cause a crash.

The Metropolitan DUI Task force will set up one checkpoint in each city from 5 p.m. tonight to 3 a.m. the next day, said Brittany Janes, high visibility enforcement coordinator for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

The Denver Police Department will also deploy a Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Van at checkpoint operations to do breath tests onsite, according to news release from CDOT.

Colorado has seen over 100 fatal crashes this year involving an impaired driver, and almost 40% of those occurred in metro Denver, according to crash data from CDOT.

The data also shows that as of July 19, Denver County, Adams County, and Jefferson County were the counties with the highest fatalities due to impaired driving,

“Operating any motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in a DUI, jail time and criminal fines …or worse, a fatal crash,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk in a statement to the press.

The average cost of a DUI in Colorado is $13,530, and a first-time DUI can result in up to a year in jail, $1,000 in fees, and almost 100 hours of community service, as well as additional fees required by court, according to information from No DUI Colorado.

Colorado law prohibits driving under the influence, or driving while ability impaired (DWAI), which means it is illegal to drive a vehicle while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs, according to the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services.

If a driver’s breath alcohol content (BAC) exceeds 0.05 but is less than 0.08, that person commits driving while ability impaired (DWAI), and if a driver’s BAC exceeds 0.08, it is considered a DUI.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following safety guidelines for driving responsibly:

• If you are drinking, do not drive.
• Plan your safe ride home before you start the party, choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.
• If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home.
• Call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend.
• If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
• Always wear your seat belt — it’s the best defense against impaired drivers.