Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement will conduct a heightened DUI enforcement period from Friday to Tuesday to keep roads safe from impaired drivers during New Year’s holiday celebrations.

So far in 2017, 226 impairment-related traffic fatalities have occurred on Colorado roads, which exceeds the 191 deaths in 2016.

“More than one-third of all traffic fatalities this year involved an impaired driver,” Darrell Lingk, CDOT Office of Transportation Safety director, said in a news release. “It takes one person’s bad decision to change many lives forever. Plan a sober ride before you start celebrating.”

The crackdown may include sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement dedicated to impaired-driving prevention. Last year’s five-day enforcement included 106 law enforcement agencies and arrested 279 impaired drivers.

“People often forget the financial, legal and – most importantly – the safety implications of driving impaired,” CSP Chief Col. Matthew Packard said in a news release. “There is absolutely no need to risk driving under the influence with the many transportations options available. We hope Coloradans will look out for one another this New Year’s and help each other make smart decisions.”

First-time DUI offenders can be punished with up to one year in jail, license suspension and steep fines. Penalties increase for repeat offenders.

For more information, visit www.heatisoncolorado.com.

fstone@durangoherald.com